Microsoft Earnings Up 60 Pct

Fiscal Q2 Rises As Computer Industry Bounces Back

(AP)  Microsoft says its earnings in the most recent quarter jumped 60 percent, helped by a rebound in personal computer sales.

The PC industry bounced back during the 2009 holiday shopping season after one of its roughest years to date. Microsoft's earnings are closely tied to computer sales because its two most profitable divisions make the Windows operating system and the Office set of business software.

Microsoft Corp. said Thursday its net income for the fiscal second quarter that ended Dec. 31 rose to $6.7 billion, or 74 cents per share. Revenue increased 13 percent to $19 billion.

The latest version of Windows, called Windows 7, was released during the quarter. Revenue from the Windows business jumped 70 percent.