Microsoft Profits Jump 29 Percent

Microsoft Corp., buoyed by strong sales of applications software, on Wednesday reported a 29 percent increase in secondquarter earnings.

Net income for the three months ended Dec. 31 was $373 million, or 60 cents per share, compared with $289 million, or 48 cents per share, in the same quarter a year earlier.

Second-quarter revenue was up 31 percent from a year ago.

“This has been another record quarter for the company, sparked by strong showings by Microsoft Office and Microsoft BackOffice,” said Mike Brown, chief financial officer.