IBM's profit boosted by weak dollar



IBM recently sold off its PC hardware division
IBM has reported fourth quarter profits ahead of Wall Street expectations.
The US computer giant made a net profit of $3.1bn (£1.6bn), or $1.81 a
share, between October and December 2004, up 12% on $2.71bn a year earlier.

Analysts had, on average, been expecting IBM to report a profit of $1.78 a
share.

Solid last quarter sales at IBM were further boosted by the beneficial
impact of the weak dollar on its overseas operations.

IBM's fourth quarter sales from continuing operations were $27.7bn, up 7%
compared to $25.9bn during the final quarter of 2003.

source full story: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4186153.stm