Gazprom Neft Q3 profit fell, core earnings rose

MOSCOW Dec 21 (Reuters) - Russian oil firm Gazprom Neft (SIBN.MM), the oil arm of gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM), said on Friday its net profit edged down in the third quarter, while core earnings rose.

The firm said its net profit, calculated under U.S. GAAP standards, fell to $957 million in the period from $1.03 billion the same period last year.

Revenues were $5.43 billion in the third quarter of the year, on a par with the third quarter in 2006, which stood at $5.40 billion.

Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to $1.45 billion versus $1.35 billion last year. (Reporting by Amie Ferris-Rotman)