iPod sales up Apple profits

Apple Computer Inc yesterday posted a quarterly profit that quadrupled as the company sold more than 6.5 million iPods, the digital music player that has rejuvenated the maker of Macintosh computers.

Apple said net income for its fiscal fourth quarter rose to $430 million, or 50 cents per share, from $106m, or 13 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue rose 56% to $3.68 billion.

Analysts had expected a net profit of 36 cents per share, on average, on revenue of $3.74bn, according to Reuters Estimates. In July, the company forecast fourth-quarter revenue of about $3.5bn and earnings per share of about 32 cents.