The US computer manufacturer, Hewlett-Packard, has reported a 13 per cent drop in second-quarter net profits, down from $784 million (£481 million) last year to $685 million at the end of April. Ms Elma Murphy, general manager Hewlett-Packard Ireland, said yesterday that Irish sales had risen by more than 23 per cent, ahead of group sales growth of 13 per cent.