Apple expected to release positive results

Growth in Apple Mac and iPhone sales set to boost first quarter results

Apple is set to report a positive performance

Apple is expected to report buoyant results for the first quarter of 2009 today, boosted by demand growth in popular products such as the Apple Mac and the iPhone.

Following the positive results posted by IBM yesterday, analysts expect Apple to report $9.76bn (£7.09bn) in revenue today, with earnings per share reaching $1.38 (£1).

By comparison, the company reported total revenue of $7.9bn (£4.8bn) in its fourth quarter results.

At that time, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said that despite caution over prospects with a recession looming, the company is in good shape to cope.

“We're armed with the strongest product line in our history, the most talented employees and the best customers in our industry. And $25bn of cash safely in the bank with zero debt," he said in October.