Samsung operating profit up 85% By Simon Mundy, FT.com updated 1:40 AM EDT, Fri October 5, 2012 Sales of Galaxy smartphones have led Samsung to record profits. Strong smartphone sales helped Samsung Electronics beat market expectations World's biggest technology company by sales saw operating profits up 85% Strong global sales of its Galaxy smartphones led record strong increases The main subject of Apple's intellectual property infringement claims (Financial Times) -- Strong smartphone sales helped Samsung Electronics beat market expectations in the third quarter, as the world's biggest technology company by sales achieved an operating profit increase of more than 85 per cent. The strong results came despite the fact that during the third quarter Samsung was embroiled in a fierce US court battle with Apple, its main smartphone rival, which left it facing a damages bill of more than $1bn for patent infringement. But strong global sales of its Galaxy smartphones -- the main subject of Apple's intellectual property infringement claims -- enabled Samsung to record strong increases in both revenue and profit, revealed in earnings guidance issued on Friday. Revenue for the quarter was between $46bn and $47.7bn, up from $37.2bn a year before. Operating profit was between $7.1bn and $7.5bn, up from $3.8bn. A Bloomberg poll of analysts had produced a consensus forecast of $6.8bn for operating profit. Despite the outperformance of the consensus forecast, Samsung's shares were trading only 0.15 per cent higher at 1.37m won in mid-morning trading in Seoul. Marcello Ahn, an analyst at Nomura, said investors were taking profits amid concerns that Samsung would not repeat the positive surprise in the fourth quarter. Shares in the company have risen 62 per cent in the past 12 months. Mr Ahn said strong smartphone sales contrasted with weaker performance at the semiconductor division. This was due to muted demand for memory chips from the PC market, and a later than expected launch for Apple's iPhone 5, for which Samsung is the biggest supplier of components. But Mr Ahn forecast another strong quarter in the final three months of the year, citing the recent launch of the Galaxy Note 2 tablet and an improved contribution from European sales as a result of a stronger euro. Samsung and Apple are continuing to tussle over the fallout from August's California court decision. Last month, Apple asked the judge to increase the damages award by $707m. Samsung responded this week by adding the iPhone 5 to a list of products that it says infringe its patents on data transfer technology. On Wednesday, Samsung also called for a new trial in the high-profile US patent case, citing concerns about one of the jurors. updated 1:20 AM EDT, Thu October 4, 2012 High U.S. taxes and political indecision are hindering the country's economic recovery, the head of General Electric has told CNN. updated 11:36 AM EDT, Mon October 1, 2012 At first glance of the television screen, it looks to me like a normal scene from a Middle Eastern open air market or souk. updated 6:19 AM EDT, Mon September 24, 2012 When Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping called Tokyo's territorial claims on a group of East China Seas island "a farce," he echoed national sentiment of protesters who took to the streets in anti-Japan protests in recent weeks. A day after Spain presented its financial prescription for next year, France unveiled what is being dubbed its "toughest budget in 30 years." updated 1:21 AM EDT, Thu October 4, 2012 Facebook revealed plans for its new headquarters that will be "the largest open floor plan in the world." updated 7:07 AM EDT, Fri September 28, 2012 Spain faces a test of unity over the coming months as regional elections in Catalonia and Galicia threaten to destabilize the debt-ridden nation.