"LONDON — Total, the Paris-based oil giant, on Thursday reported a loss of $5.7 billion for the fourth quarter of 2014 as it struggles with the deep slump in oil prices.

Write-downs of about $6.5 billion, mostly on Canadian oil sands projects, shale gas operations in the United States and European refining businesses, contributed to the loss, the company said.

Total will impose a hiring freeze leading to the reduction of 2,000 jobs by the end of this year through attrition, a representative said."

Stanley Reed reports for the New York Times February 12, 2015. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Halliburton to Trim Its Work Force by 7%" (New York Times) [3]