FUEL companies say pump prices are set to stabilise, but the price war is far from over. BP group managing director Rolf Stomberg was reported to have said last week that the forecourt battle was over, followed closely by Shell UK chairman Chris Fay saying it was still on.

However, both companies were in agreement that their chiefs had in fact been referring to a general stabilisation of the market rather than a halt to the price war. The comments came as BP and Shell both announced a jump in profits for last year. Both, however, were hit by the price war, which saw Shell's petrol retail business losing £45 million.