Aug 2 (Reuters) - Canada's Imperial Oil ( IMO ) on

Friday reported a 68% jump in second-quarter profit, as the

integrated oil firm was helped by higher crude prices and

production.

Extension of a production cut by OPEC+, forecast of strong

travel demand and hopes of interest rate cuts by the U.S.

Federal Reserve helped lift crude prices nearly 7% in

the April-June quarter compared to last year.

Upstream production rose 11.3% to 404,000 gross barrels of

oil equivalent per day (boepd), its highest second-quarter

production in over 30 years, after adjusting for the divestment

of XTO Energy, the company said.

Separately, Imperial's majority shareholder and oil and gas

major Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) beat Wall Street's expectations for

second-quarter profit earlier in the day, helped by an increase

in oil production.

The Calgary-based company said its net profit rose to C$1.13

billion ($814.30 million), or C$2.11 per share, in the quarter

ended June 30, from C$675 million, or C$1.15 per share, last

year.