ASML posts big rises in revenue and profits

Dutch chip manufacturer ASML http://www.asml.com has announced big rises in first quarter results, with profits almost five times those from a year ago. However, as the company reports in a press release on its website, it is not expecting a similar boom in the chip branch for this year as was the case in 2004. The company's revenue climbed 51 per cent to 685 million euros, and its profit rose by 21 per cent to 100 million euros. However, compared to the final quarter of 2004, the results and profits from the first quarter of 2005 were lower.