Intel sales buoyed by emerging markets

INTEL, the world’s biggest chipmaker, forecast third-quarter sales that exceeded some analysts’ estimates, buoyed by corporate computer upgrades and first-time purchases by consumers in emerging markets.

Revenue will be $14 billion, plus or minus $500 million, Santa Clara, California-based Intel said last night. That compares with $13.5 billion, the average of analysts’ projections compiled by Bloomberg. Gross margin, the percentage of sales left after deducting production costs, will be about 64%, Intel said. Shares rose after the report.

Corporate purchases of personal computers and servers and sales to consumers in developing countries such as Brazil and China are outweighing stagnant sales of laptops in the US and Europe. Greater demand for Intel’s powerful chips for business machines raises average selling prices and boosts Intel’s profitability.