Microsoft posts $6.62 bn quarterly net profit

Microsoft reported a $6.62 billion net profit on Thursday for the second quarter of its fiscal year, slightly better than the expectations of Wall Street analysts. The US software giant said quarterly revenue rose five percent in the quarter which ended on December 31 to $20.89 billion. The net profit of $6.62 billion was virtually unchanged from the same quarter a year ago when Microsoft posted a $6.63 billion net profit. Earnings per share of 78 cents for the quarter were slightly better than the 76 cents forecast by analysts. "We saw strong demand for our business products and services, despite the soft PC market and continuing economic uncertainty in key parts of the world," Microsoft chief financial officer Peter Klein said in a statement. "We delivered record earnings per share by continuing to manage our costs while investing for future growth."