SHELL returned to profit in a big way in the fourth quarter of 2021 but quickly came under pressure in the UK political arena as news of the Anglo-Dutch supermajor's lavish earnings coincided with a decision by the UK energy regulator to increase a cap on household energy prices by 54%. Shell reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $6.4 billion versus $393 million in the same period a year earlier, supported by higher commodity prices. The UK-headquartered super-major last week said it would step up distributions to shareholders, including a plan to buy back $8.5 billion shares, which will be partly funded by some of the $5.5 billion of proceeds from the sale of assets in the Permian basin in the US.
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