THE US computer company Digital, which employs about 1,000 people in Ireland, has said its profits for the latest quarter jumped 67 per cent to $124 million (£79.5 million), up from $74 million.

The results, for the third quarter to the end of March, are Digital's best performance for the period in six years. Turnover set a third quarter record of $3.6 billion, up from $3.5 billion in the 1995 quarter.

Digital Ireland's general manager, Mr Paul Harvey, said it had been one of the strongest quarters ever for Digital in Ireland. "The outlook for the year is extremely positive," he said.