Oracle profit up 25 percent, boosted by Sun takeover

WASHINGTON: Oracle Corp, the world's second-largest software maker, reported its fourth-quarter profit was up 25 percent over the same period of 2009 at $2.36 billion.

The figures announced Thursday by the California-based company exceeded analysts' estimates compiled by the Bloomberg financial news agency.

Sales for the quarter, which ended May 31, were up 39 percent at $9.5 billion, it said.

Contributing to the jump in earnings was Sun Microsystems Inc, which Oracle bought this year and which returned to profit after the sale.

It was part of a spending spree for Oracle that expanded its product line and lowered its costs. Also helping the company was the end of the recession, which prompted customers to buy more of its programmes.