ONLINE SALES:EBay posted stronger-than- expected quarterly revenue and earnings as more consumers shopped on its online marketplaces and used its PayPal payment service.

The group said second-quarter revenue jumped 23 per cent to $3.4 billion, while profit climbed 16 per cent to $730 million, or 56 cents per share. EBay’s third- quarter revenue and profit forecasts were slightly below analyst expectations, but the e-commerce giant stuck with its full-year guidance from earlier this year.

Shares of eBay rose 5.1 per cent to $42.53 in extended trading after the results. EBay shares have gained more than 30 per cent so far this year, outpacing those of rival Amazon.com, on optimism that growth has resumed.