SYDNEY, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Google agreed on Monday to pay a A$55 million ($35.8 million) fine in Australia after the consumer watchdog found it had hurt competition by paying the country's two largest telcos to pre-install its search application on Android phones, excluding rival search engines. The fine extends a bumpy period for the Alphabet-owned internet giant in Australia,...

LONDON (Reuters) -Refiners across the globe are reaping unexpected profits from producing key fuels in recent weeks, offering an ailing sector respite before an anticipated weakening later this year, as plant closures have tightened fuel supply needed to meet peak summer demand. The strength in fuel markets contrasts with crude oil prices falling to a four-year low in May, after...

June 3 (Reuters) - Britain's Thames Water said on Tuesday that KKR has told the utility that it would not proceed with its equity injection plans, and that the U.S. private equity firm's preferred partner status has now lapsed. (Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala) ...

(The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.) * BP's net debt reached $27 billion by end of Q1 * CEO aims to reduce net debt to $14-$18 billion by 2027 * Shares have underperformed rivals since strategy reset in February By Ron Bousso LONDON, June 3 - BP has jumped from crisis to crisis...