MICROSOFT Corporation has reported a 23 per cent rise in profits after tax to $614 million (£377 million) for the three months to end September. Earnings per share rose to $0.95 from $0.78. The Washington-based company employs 800 people at its European operations centre in Dublin.

The increase was generated on a 14 per cent rise in revenue to $2.3 billion, reflecting an improvement in operating margins.