International Business
Machines’ decadelong shift to higher-margin software sales helped it overcome a slowdown in technology spending last quarter and boost its full-year earnings forecast. Excluding some items, profit will increase to at least $15.10 a share this year, up from a previous forecast of $15, IBM said. Earnings were $3.51 in the quarter, topping the $3.43 average estimate, even as sales declined. IBM aims to get half of its profit from software by 2015.