News 

Dell recorded first quarter revenues of $16 billion, an increase of 9% on the same period last year. The results were bolstered by shipment growth of 22% - its strongest in two years. All told, the company's net income rose to $784 million, a 4% increase from last year.

Brazil, Russia, India and China accounted for almost 9% of Dell's total revenue, which the company cited as evidence that its new focus on emerging markets was paying dividends. The company believes sales from these countries will generate almost two thirds of its total revenue within five years.

Sales were also helped by its job cutting policy, which has seen the world's second largest PC-maker axe 7,000 jobs over the past year. The company plans to eliminate 8,900 positions overall.

The company, which made its name through its direct sales model, has recently made a big push into retail sales, signing deals with DSG, the owner of Dixons, PC World and Currys. The push appears to have paid off, with laptop sales surging 43%, and consumer PC sales growing at almost double the industry average.