Acer increased sales in the first half of 2008 by 31 per cent to $8.14bn.

Operating income was up 39 per cent to $175.85m but profit after tax was $189.98m - down 23 per cent on the same time last year. In July Acer said it had increased market share in Europe and Asia.

Earnings per share in the period were 1.17 New Taiwanese Dollars compared to 0.76 New Taiwanese Dollars in the second quarter of 2007. One US dollar equates to 30.9815 NTDs.

Acer sells through the channel only and employs about 5,000 people across the world. It also owns Gateway and Packard-Bell and is the world's third biggest PC maker, behind HP and Dell. The earnings statement is here. ®

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