Dell outperforms in sliding PC market

Dell is set to outperform expectations in its latest set of financial figures in spite of a general decline in the PC market.

Strong sales into the consumer sector are being given the credit for the news, with Q4 sales to 1 February expected to touch $8bn, up from the firm's original prediction of $7.6bn. Profits should now reach $460m.

The consumer business will show a 50 per cent quarter-on-quarter increase in shipments, with revenues for the division up approximately 40 per cent.

Dell claims that its Q4 results will make it the only PC company to reach year-on-year growth in units shipped, even though the sector showed an overall decline of seven per cent.

The company's global market share now stands at just under 14 per cent, up three per cent on last year.