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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • A fond farewell to the Weekly World News 7/25/07   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Amazon profits rocket upward Associated Press SEATTLE - Amazon.com Inc.'s second-quarter profit more than tripled, boosted by strong sales of books, music and electronics worldwide. The Web retailer's stock soared 12.5 percent in after-hours trading. Earnings for the three months ended June 30 climbed to $78 million, or 19 cents per share, from $22 million, or 5 cents per share during the same period last year, the company said Tuesday. Results topped Wall Street's expectations. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial forecast a profit of 16 cents per share. Revenue rose 35 percent to $2.88 billion from $2.14 billion in the year-ago quarter, beating expectations for $2.81 billion in sales. Prior to the announcement, shares of Amazon sank $2.49, or 3.5 percent, to close at $69.25. They gained $8.65, to $77.90, in after-hours trading. Amazon said a weaker dollar helped improve sales slightly. The company said media and electronics sales rose across all regions, and subscribers to the $79-per-year shipping membership program, Amazon Prime, increased. For the current third quarter, Amazon said it expects revenue of $3 billion to $3.175 billion. For the full fiscal year, Amazon raised its forecast to $13.8 billion to $14.3 billion, up from its earlier outlook for $13.4 billion to $14 billion.

1. Victims of Highway 9 crash ID'd; suspect booked for vehicular homicide 2. Driver had 8 beers before crash that killed 4, police say 3. Suspect in officer killings eludes law in Seattle 4. New laws for Snohomish County bikini baristas? 5. Investigator arrived drunk at scene of deadly DUI, police allege 6. Final rules in Air Force tanker contest due any day 7. City error leads to dismantling of Snohomish kennel 8. New store in Everett focuses on gluten-free food 9. Local police offer help after Lakewood shooting 10. Alabama’s Cody moves into Heisman limelight 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

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