Apple logs record numbers yet again

Apple has increased revenues by 12 per cent over the past 12 months

Apple has reported yet another record-setting financial quarter, logging $9.87bn (£6.03bn) in revenue and a profit of $1.67bn (£1.02bn).

The quarter was Apple's strongest ever, and topped revenues of $7.9bn (£4.83bn) and profits of $1.14bn (£696m) in the same period last year.

The report closes a fiscal year in which Apple chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer said that the company increased revenues by 12 per cent.

"We are thrilled to have sold more Macs and iPhones than in any previous quarter," said Apple co-founder and chief executive Steve Jobs. "We have a very strong line up for the holiday season, and some really great new products in the pipeline for 2010."

Apple sold 3.05 million Macintosh computers over the quarter, up 17 per cent on the 2008 quarter. IPod sales were up eight per cent at 10.2 million, and iPhone sales rose seven per cent to 7.4 million.

International sales also played a large part in the strong quarter, with 46 per cent of revenues coming from outside the US.

The strong results contrast with what has otherwise been a rough year for much of the IT and electronics industry.

The report also comes amid speculation about a new tablet device from Apple which is said to be slated for an unveiling some time in the coming months.