LONDON: Royal Dutch Shell on Wednesday said it will boost its planned shareholder returns beginning in the second quarter after a sharp rise in oil and gas prices helped it reduce debt.

       In a trading statement ahead of its quarterly results, the Anglo-Dutch company said the acceleration of its planned distribution policy was due to "strong operational and financial delivery, combined with an improved macroeconomic outlook."

       As a result, Shell will retire its $65 billion net debt target, it said. - Reuters