Business briefs

NATION

EBay earnings fall for second quarter in row

NEW YORK — EBay’s earnings and revenue have fallen for the second quarter in a row, hampered by the weak economy. But they beat analysts’ expectations.

The first-quarter results Wednesday show the San Jose, Calif.-based company is still struggling with the economy and efforts to improve its online marketplace.

EBay Inc. says it earned $357.1 million, or 28 cents per share, in the first quarter. This is down from $459.7 million, or 34 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. When excluding items, eBay says it earned 39 cents per share; analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected 33 cents per share.

Apple profits rise, thanks to sales of iPhones, iPods

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple Inc. says its profit jumped 15 percent in the last quarter, well ahead of Wall Street’s expectations despite the global economic downturn.

Sales of iPhones more than doubled to 3.79 million units from the year-ago quarter. Apple says it sold more iPods, but Macintosh computer sales dipped.

Apple says it earned $1.33 per share, or $1.21 billion. The Cupertino-based company’s sales rose 9 percent to $8.16 billion, higher than analysts were expecting, according to a Thomson Reuters survey.

Associated Press