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World business quick take

■Internet
Yahoo revenue rises 51%
Yahoo Inc earned US$46.2 million in the fourth quarter as the group of Internet sites used by 213 million people a month sold more advertising and services. The shares fell 6.2 percent in extended trading as results lagged some expectations. Net income of US$0.08 a share compared with a year-earlier loss of US$8.7 million, or US$0.02, Chief Executive Officer Terry Semel said on a conference call. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had forecast profit of US$0.06 a share. Revenue rose 51 percent to US$285.8 million from US$188.9 million. Semel has boosted advertising sales through a joint venture with Overture Services Inc that imbeds ads in the results of Internet searches. He's also begun to charge consumers for services such as personal ads. Still, revenue was less than some investors expected.

■ Virgin Blue
Ten Boeing jets ordered
Virgin Blue Airlines Pty may buy as many as 50 aircraft from Boeing Co for A$5.4 billion (US$3.1 billion), potentially tripling its fleet as Richard Branson challenges Qantas Airways Ltd in Australia and Southeast Asia. Virgin Blue will take delivery of 10 737-800 aircraft by August 2004, increasing its fleet to 40 Boeing planes, and has an option to buy 40 more in the next 10 years. Chief Executive Officer Brett Godfrey said the airline is targeting a 30 percent share of the Australian market this year, from 25 percent now, and wants to fly to Singapore and other Asian cities. Boeing beat Airbus SAS for the order after 10 months of negotiations, Godfrey said. Virgin Blue, founded by Branson with two leased Boeing planes in August 2000 and half-owned by Sydney-based Patrick Corp, is buying aircraft for the first time as it prepares for a share sale to the public.

■ Chip equipment
Global sales up 30 percent
Worldwide sales of chipmaking equipment rose in November, the third straight gain after 18 months of declines, an industry group said. The rise may signal a recovery in the global chip market is under way. Chip-equipment sales rose 29.6 percent in November from the same month a year ago to US$1.27 billion, the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan said. Sales dipped 37 percent on a month-on-month basis. Demand for equipment is rebounding as chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics Co, which is projected to surpass Intel Corp to become the biggest buyer of equipment this year, expand production capacity. Global chip sales will probably increase 12 percent this year to about US$174 billion after gaining 1.4 percent last year.

■ Cartoons
Disney retains rights
Disney Corp can hang on to exclusive rights to Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and other cartoon characters for another 20 years, according to a decision by the US Supreme Court on Tuesday. The law, passed in 1998 by congress, extended copyright privileges for creative works by 20 years, ensuring 95 years to rights owned by corporations and 70 years after death to rights held by private artists. The challenge before the Supreme court was brought by a coalition of Internet-rights advocates. The constitution gives Congress the power "to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries."

Agencies
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