iPods and Macs pillars of Apple profits

Apple Inc.'s fiscal fourth-quarter profits jumped 67 percent, capping a year of unprecedented growth in its Macintosh computer business, continued demand for iPods and the successful launch of the iPhone.

The company has sold more than 120 million iPods since the product debuted in 2001.

In the three months that ended September 30, Apple said Monday it earned $904 million, or $1.01 per share, compared with $542 million, or 62 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Apple easily beat the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial, who predicted earnings per share of 86 cents on sales of $6.07 billion.

Revenue totaled $6.22 billion, compared with $4.84 billion in the same quarter last year.

Apple's stock price, which has more than doubled since January, rose $3.94, or 2.3 percent, to close at $174.36. After the earnings report, shares climbed about $12, almost 7 percent, in extended trading.

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