FRANKFURT — BASF, the world’s biggest chemicals maker, said on Thursday that profits rose in the second quarter, driven by its oil and gas business. BASF said in a statement that its bottom-line net profit climbed by 12 percent to 1.299 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in the period from April to June. Underlying or operating profit grew by 13.9 percent to 2.019 billion euros on a 0.6-percent increase in sales to 18.455 billion euros. “BASF’s business developed positively in the second quarter of 2014,” said chief executive Kurt Bock, attributing the increase to “higher sales volumes in our chemicals business,” which includes the oil and gas division. At the same time, exchange rate effects had a negative effect on performance, BASF said. – AFP