In brief

A round-up of other business stories.

Intel reports lower profit for quarter

Chip maker Intel last night reported lower quarterly profit on slowing demand for personal computers, but results beat analysts' estimates.

First-quarter net income was $1.35 billion, or 23 cents per share, compared with $2.18 billion, or 35 cents per share, a year earlier, the company said.

Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 22 cents per share, according to estimates.

The stock rose 1 per cent in after-hours trade on Inet following the profit report, which beat analysts' earnings per share estimates by a penny. - (Reuters)

Pfizer earnings beat expectations

Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, yesterday reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit as lower costs and a favourable tax rate helped offset lower revenue.

It repeated its forecast of slightly lower earnings in 2006 as it faces higher marketing costs to launch new products. The revenue decline stemmed from generic competition, negative foreign exchange trends and last year's withdrawal of its Bextra painkiller. - (Reuters)

iPod sales boost Apple's income

Apple Computer last night posted a higher quarterly profit, helped by sales of its market-leading iPod digital music players that topped 8.5 million units.

Apple said net income for its second fiscal quarter, ended April 1st, rose to $410 million (€334 million), or 47 cents per share, from $290 million, or 34 cents per share, in the year ago period. - (Reuters)

Yahoo! results please analysts

Yahoo! has posted quarterly results in line with Wall Street expectations on strong display advertising and surprise growth in its web search audience, sending shares up 6 per cent.

It forecast second-quarter revenue behind some estimates, but stood by its target for the full year.

Analysts saw the results as good news in the battle with its main rival Google. - (Reuters)

Coca-Cola profits rise 10 per cent

Coca-Cola yesterday posted a 10 per cent rise in quarterly profit boosted by its PowerAde sports drink and Dasani bottled water brands and strong growth in China, Russia and Turkey.

Still, sales were flat due to a change in the way Coke records revenue from its Spanish business.

The Atlanta-based company reported first-quarter profit of $1.1 billion, or 47 cents a share, from $1 billion, or 42 cents a share, a year earlier.