It raised its dividend, cut back capital spending plans, and ramped up its asset sales target to $10 billion over the next two years from between $4 billion and $6 billion previously - cash that will also go back to shareholders. Its shares have risen 6.8 percent since Monday's close. "At the moment the market likes oil companies that cut back on expenditure and pay out big dividends," said Malcolm Graham-Wood, analyst and adviser at VSA Capital. The other companies - Exxon Mobil Corp, Chevron Corp, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Total SA - acknowledged spending heavily to prevent output from falling but stopped short of major changes. Exxon indicated its capital expenditures may subside next year after planned spending of $41 billion this year. It said it has returned $5.8 billion to shareholders in the third quarter through dividends and share repurchases, but did not raise its dividend.