Exxon Mobil Corp reported a 53 percent increase in quarterly profit as an improving world economy sparked higher demand for fuel and chemicals as crude oil prices rose.

It reported a fourth-quarter profit of $9.25 billion, or $1.85 per share, compared with $6.05 billion, or $1.27 per share in the same quarter a year earlier.

(Reporting by Anna Driver in Houston, editing by Dave Zimmerman)

Energy