Digi-tech company ARM boosted by Apple results

Stunning results from US giant Apple sent UK blue-chip digital technology firm ARM Holdings to the top of the FTSE 100 Index today.

Cambridge-based ARM, whose chip designs are used in a raft of digital products such as mobile phone handsets and MP3 players, rose more than 3% at one point after Apple shattered Wall Street hopes with second-quarter figures.

Apple sold a record 8.8 million iPhones in the three months to March 27 – more than double the number sold a year earlier – making up 40% of the group’s sales.

Overall revenues were 49% ahead of a year earlier at $13.5bn (€10bn), sending Apple’s shares to a record high overnight.