SEATTLE (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp easily beat Wall Street forecasts with a 48 percent rise in quarterly profit, but its shares barely moved in the absence of powerful new signs of a rebound in global tech spending.

The world’s largest software company said business customers are continuing to come back to the market for new personal computers, about 90 percent of which run on Microsoft’s software, but it failed to match chipmaker Intel Corp’s strongly optimistic tone last week.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Signs point to strong results for Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) as companies get around to buying computers after a two-year drought, but its stock may find it tough to gain altitude amid worries about where growth will come from in coming years.

Intel Corp (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) smashed Wall Street’s expectations last week, pointing to resurgent demand from corporations for computers and servers. But IBM (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) disappointed on Tuesday with weak technology services signings, in a surprise hint of weakness in IT spending.

SEATTLE (Reuters) – The world’s leading gaming hardware makers, hoping to reignite the slumping $60 billion industry, will unveil at E3 next week a range of futuristic gadgets designed to pull in a new generation of players.

Microsoft Corp is expected to announce a name and launch date for its “Project Natal” controller-free system at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Sony Corp will show off its competing Move motion-sensor, and Nintendo Co will give the first glimpse of its new 3D handheld device.

SEATTLE (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp’s move to shake up the leadership of its mobile and games division this week — giving Chief Executive Steve Ballmer direct control over the push to catch up with Apple Inc and Google Inc in the exploding smartphone market — revealed its determination to ride the next wave of computing.

Few expect a change of management to turn the entertainment and devices unit into an iPhone-killing, Wii-slaying profit machine overnight. But Microsoft — known for its deep pockets and ability to assimilate new technology — won’t stop pouring money into the mobile and gaming sectors.

SEATTLE (Reuters) – Apple Inc shot past Microsoft Corp as the world’s biggest tech company based on market value on Wednesday, the latest milestone in the resurgence of the maker of the iPhone, which nearly went out of business in the 1990s.

Apple’s shares rose as much 2.8 percent on Nasdaq on Wednesday, as Microsoft shares floundered, briefly pushing its market value above $229 billion, ahead of its longtime rival.

SEATTLE (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp’s Robbie Bach, head of the video games and mobile phones unit, is retiring in a management shuffle, as Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer tightens his grip over a division steadily ceding ground to rivals.

The departure of the 22-year veteran, credited for launching the Xbox in 2001, comes as the world’s largest software maker is being brushed aside by Apple Inc’s iPhone and Google Inc’s Android operating system in a fast-growing but increasingly crowded smartphone market.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Fears that Greece’s debt crisis will spread could undermine a resurgence in regional technology spending, but European tech exporters — and their customers — could benefit in the second half, executives told the Reuters Global Technology Summit this week.

The euro hit a four-year low against the dollar on Wednesday, one of the clearest signs of concern that financial problems in Europe will not be limited to Greece.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Fears that Greece’s debt crisis will spread could undermine a resurgence in regional technology spending, but European tech exporters — and their customers — could benefit in the second half, executives told the Reuters Global Technology Summit this week.

The euro hit a four-year low against the dollar on Wednesday, one of the clearest signs of concern that financial problems in Europe will not be limited to Greece.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – More technology deals are on the way as the industry recovers from the recession, but Microsoft Corp is not poised to make a big deal soon, its chief financial officer told Reuters on Friday.

Potential acquisition targets felt that buyers weren’t willing to pay high enough premiums during the market downturn, but that is starting to change, said Microsoft CFO Peter Klein at the Reuters Global Technology Summit in New York.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – More technology deals are on the way as the industry recovers from the recession, but Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O> is not poised to make a big deal soon, its chief financial officer told Reuters on Friday.

Potential acquisition targets felt that buyers weren’t willing to pay high enough premiums during the market downturn, but that is starting to change, said Microsoft CFO Peter Klein at the Reuters Global Technology Summit in New York.