Software giant Microsoft last night posted disappointing Q3 results which saw its shares fall by 5%.
The company, which employs 1,700 in Sandyford, Dublin, said its profit fell by 11% to $4.39 billion in the three months to March, with revenue of $14.45 billion, both below expectations.
Two-thirds of Microsoft's revenues in the quarter came from outside the US and more than half of the cash was made in emerging markets.
Microsoft reported that its Xbox 360 video game consoles and software for business servers were star sellers in the quarter. Xbox 360 sales grew 68% as compared with the same period last year.
Separately, the company's chief financial officer, Chris Liddell, said yesterday that the US software giant is standing by its $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo.
Yahoo has been given until Saturday to accept the takeover deal. However, Yahoo rejected the ultimatum earlier this month, but did leave the door open to a higher bid.
