Microsoft 4th quarter profits leap on strong software sales
Microsoft Corp. says its fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped 42 per cent from a year ago, helped by strong sales of its Office and Windows software.
Earnings rose to $4.5 billion US or $0.46 US per share, but that missed Wall Street's expectations by a penny per share.
Revenue increased 18 per cent to nearly $16 billion US from just over $13 billion US last year, just ahead of Wall Street's average forecast, according to a Thomson Financial survey.
The Office and Windows divisions posted strong profits, but the segments that make the Xbox and sell online advertising lost money.
Microsoft is trying to buy the internet search engine company Yahoo in a hostile takeover and the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Seattle-based software giant is talking to Time Warner about merging with the AOL online business presence.
Microsoft, which has been seeking to bolster its internet business for years, had no comment on the report.
With files from the Associated Press
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