Profits at Apple soared 88 per cent in its second quarter thanks to lower component costs and sales of MacBook laptops and iPod media players. The news lifted its shares over $100 (€73.54) for the first time.
The results, which trashed Wall Street expectations, came as Apple's board threw its support behind chief executive Steve Jobs, after the company's former chief financial officer linked him to the mishandling of backdated stock options.
The vote of confidence from directors included former US vice-president Al Gore and Google chief Eric Schmidt. Mr Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976 and has been the driving force behind its turnaround in recent years.
Profits after tax for the fiscal second quarter jumped to $770 million from $410 million - well ahead of Apple's own forecast, which tends to be cautious, as well as the average analyst forecast. "The big news is the Macintosh," said Barry Jaruzelski, a partner at consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.
Analysts were also impressed with Apple's gross margin, which rose to 35.1 per cent from 29.8 per cent a year ago.
Apple said this month it had sold its 100 millionth iPod in just over five years, capturing more than 70 per cent of the US digital music player market. Its iTunes music store, which also sells television shows and movies, has sold more than 2.5 billion songs.
