Microsoft profit tops estimates

MICROSOFT, the world’s largest software maker — which employs more than 600 people in Ireland — reported second-quarter profit that beat estimates, boosted by Christmas sales of Xbox machines and Kinect sensors, as well as corporate software demand.

Net income was $6.62 billion (€5.1bn), or 78 cents a share, compared with $6.63bn, or 77 cents, a year earlier, Microsoft said last night in a statement.

Sales rose to $20.9bn, matching estimates.