first quarter

Sun reported a loss for the first quarter of its fiscal 2009 year of $1.677 billion, or $2.24 per share, on revenue for $2.99 billion, down from $3.219 billion for the first quarter of 2008.

Microsoft on Thursday handily topped its revenue targets and slid by Wall Street estimates with solid fiscal first quarter results, but cut its outlook for the December quarter.

For its first quarter ending Sept. 30 (statement and presentation), Microsoft reported net income of $4.37 billion, or 48 cents a share, on revenue of $15.06 billion.

Sun Microsystems has warned that revenue for its fiscal first quarter, which ended Sept. 28, will be $2.95 billion to $3.05 billion and its loss will be 2-12 cents per share, non-GAAP.

Wall Street has been expecting revenue of $3.14 billion and a loss of one cent per share.

Oracle reported first quarter earnings that topped expectations as new software licenses were in line with estimates.

Revenue, however, was light. In a statement Thursday, Oracle said it reported earnings of $1.1 billion, or 21 cents a share (preview).

Excluding charges, Oracle reported earnings of $1.5 billion, or 29 cents a share.

Oracle steps up to the earnings plate Thursday and could face a rough crowd. Wall Street is battered and has no tolerance for any earnings–even decent reports.

No matter what Oracle says every word will be parsed to gauge the demand outlook.

Alcoa and General Electric set the tone for a disappointing first-quarter earnings period back in April when both reported worse-than-expected results.

The growth of Internet display advertising slowed in the first quarter of 2008 because of a weakened economy, according to a study released Wednesday.

Sales of Internet display ads rose 8.5 percent to an estimated $2.9 billion in the first three months of 2008, according to research firm ...

Brazil's economy grew at an annual rate of 5.8% in the first quarter of the year, boosted by a commodity boom and corporate spending.

Dell's first quarter profits rise 4% - suggesting that efforts to turn around the firm may be paying off.

A slowdown in consumer spending and an ongoing slump in corporate demand didn't hold Dell back in its just completed first quarter.