Apple Posts $170 Million Profit -- Apple Computer last week announced a $170 million net profit for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2000. Apple's bottom line was significantly bolstered by continued sales of ARM Holdings plc., which contributed $62 million to the quarter's results. Without that investment income, Apple's profit would have been $108 million, in line with the $110 million Apple predicted when it issued a warning of lowered fourth quarter earnings earlier in the month. During the quarter, Apple shipped 1.12 million units, including more than 570,000 iMacs, and international sales accounted for about 44 percent of Apple's revenue. Gross margins were down to 25 percent from 28.7 percent in the same quarter a year ago, and 29.8 percent last quarter. Apple CEO Steve Jobs warned that Apple's next quarter (the first of its 2001 fiscal year) will likely be disappointing as Apple moves aggressively to clear product inventory from its distribution channels, although CFO Fred Anderson indicated the company still expects to see a slight profit. [GD]

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