| Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ MSFT) posted a rise in quarterly net profit on Thursday, boosted by a strong performance at its database software division. The world's largest software maker reported a net profit of $3.48 billion, or 35 cents per diluted share, in its fiscal first quarter ended September 30 versus a profit of $3.14 billion, or 29 cents per diluted share, in the year-ago period. Sales rose 11 percent to $10.8 billion in the quarter. Analysts, on average, had forecast Microsoft to report earnings per share of 31 cents on revenue of $10.7 billion, according to Reuters Estimates. Microsoft posted sales and profit growth at its server and tools business, powered by strong sales of its database software platform, SQL Server, and solid demand for its Windows server software. Shares of Microsoft have risen about 25 percent since June, soaring to a near-two-year high based on investor optimism that much-anticipated upgrades of its Windows operating system and Office software suite will soon pay dividends. |
