Dell Computer Corporation last night announced a 55 per cent increase in net earnings to $384 million (£261 million) in the quarter to November 1st last.

The company, which earned $248 million in the same quarter a year earlier, also reported a 65 per cent rise in earnings per share over the previous year to 28 cents, beating Wall Street expectations by one cent. Dell employs about 3,500 people in the Republic at its operation in Limerick and Bray, Co Wicklow.

Revenues were up 51 per cent in the third quarter of Dell's 1999 fiscal year to $4.8 billion, compared with the third quarter in fiscal 1998.

"Our business continued to grow profitably in all customer segments and regions around the world," said chairman Mr Michael Dell.

The company said revenue growth rose 49 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, despite overall industry growth in the region being limited to 2 per cent.

In Europe the company said it had revenue growth of 69 per cent, increasing market share by more than 2 per cent. Limerick is the manufacturing base for the group's European operations