PC giant Dell Computer said today it saw demand return more quickly than it expected following the terrorist attacks on US cities on September 11, giving it the confidence to reaffirm its third quarter earnings targets.
'The day after there was a significant drop off in demand and we saw it rebound quicker than we thought going into the weekend,' said Dell chief operating officer Kevin Rollins.
Part of that demand was emergency and relief orders to government, relief agencies, the City of New York and companies, he said.
Earlier Dell said third quarter earnings should hit 15-16 cents a share while revenue should be between $7.2bn and $7.6bn.
Dell executives also said the group could continue to gain market share at a rapid rate while maintaining margins. The company is due to release its third quarter results in full on November 15.
Michael Dell, the company's chairman and CEO, said that while conditions in the computer industry remained difficult, the company's strategic, operating and financial position 'is better than it's ever been'.
'We're winning new customers at a rapid rate and successfully managing our operating expenses,' said Dell.
