A round up of today's other stories in brief.
Microsoft's quarterly profit rose 24 per cent on robust sales of Windows, but the company tempered expectations of a sales spike when its Xbox 360 video game console launches in a month.
Microsoft will debut Xbox 360 November 22nd, the first of a number of key product launches over the next year.
Chief financial officer Chris Liddell told Reuters Microsoft aimed for more of a "gradual ramp" of Xbox sales to avoid running out of machines early after the launch.
Strong sales of personal computers, which Liddell saw rising 9 per cent to 11 per cent in the year to June 2006, drove results in the September-ending fiscal first quarter.
Net income reached $3.14 billion (€2.6 billion), or 29 cents per share, compared with $2.53 billion, or 23 cents per share, a year earlier, which included a 3 cent charge for a settlement with Novell.
Revenue rose 6 per cent to $9.74 billion from $9.19 billion, just behind Wall Street expectations. Microsoft said it was on track to ship between4.5and -5.5 million Xbox 360 consoles in the fiscal year to June 2006. - (Reuters)
Dempsey fails to start An Post talks
Attempts by the Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey to get talks started between An Post management and unions failed yesterday.
Mr Dempsey had hoped talks might take place between the general secretary of the CWU, Steve Fitzpatrick, and An Post chief executive Donal Curtin. But agreement on a third party to chair the talks could not be reached. Industrial action by An Post staff is due to start Friday.
Hurricanes wreck Chevron windfall
Chevron's expected windfall from high energy prices was dented by hurricane damage in the third quarter, leaving the US oil and gas company with a 12.5 per cent rise in net income, versus 75 per cent at larger rival ExxonMobil.
The company said the storms reduced quarterly earnings of $3.6 billion by more than $600 milion, cutting oil and natural gas production by about 90,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day, and forcing a key refinery to shut for 40 days.
Dave O'Reilly, chairman and chief executive, said the effects on fourth-quarter results were expected to be even more significant.
Chevron is incurring repair and maintenance costs, asset write-offs and expenses for other uninsured storm-related items. - (Financial Times Service)
DAA seeks rise in check-in rents
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is seeking an increase in the rental charge paid by airlines for using the check-in desks at the airport, the aviation regulator indicated yesterday.
The regulator, Bill Prasifka, said the increase was in line with inflation. At present the annual check-in desk rental charge at Dublin Airport is €16,718, but the DAA wants this increased to €17,119 per desk.
Mr Prasifka's office is seeking submissions on the issue from interested parties.
Newcourt lists on AIM and IEX
A report in yesterday's newspaper said that security and recruitment group Newcourt planned to sell 66.5 million shares at 25 cent each as it floats on the IEX market in Dublin and the AIM in London next month.
In fact, 25 cent is the nominal unit value of the shares that will float. The company has yet to decide the price at which they will be offered in the flotation.
