Microsoft posts solid Q1 figures

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) reported a 6% rise in Q1 revenues to $6.13bn.

The software company also posted a net profit of $1.28 bn.

Excluding a $1.2bn investment charge, the company posted a profit of 43 cents a share, above most analysts' expectations.

Going forward, Microsoft said it expected revenues to climb to between $7.1bn and $7.3bn in Q2, up at least 9% from last year, as it rolls out its new Windows XP operating system and Xbox video game console.