Google meets earnings estimates, high costs drag down profits.

Google today announced financial results for the quarter and fiscal year that ended in December. The search engine leader reported consolidated revenues of $16.86 billion for the quarter, an increase of 17 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. Acquisition costs totaled $3.31 billion, or 24 percent of advertising revenues.

Net income in the fourth quarter of 2013 was $3.38 billion, compared to $2.89 billion in the fourth quarter of 2012. Earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2013 were $9.90 on 341 million diluted shares outstanding, compared to $8.62 in the fourth quarter of 2012 on 335 million diluted shares outstanding. The company holds $58.72 billion in cash and equivalents.

The now-sold Motorola Mobility division continued to see decreasing revenue. The segment contributed $1.24 billion, or seven percent of consolidated revenues, in the fourth quarter of 2013 -- compared to $1.51 billion, or 11 percent of consolidated revenues in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Google segment revenues from outside of the United States totaled $8.77 billion, representing 56 percent of total Google segment revenues in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to 56 percent in the third quarter of 2013 and 54 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. Revenues from the UK alone totaled $1.5 billion, 10 percent of Google segment revenues, unchanged from 2012.

Aggregate paid clicks, which include clicks related to ads served on Google sites and the sites of network members, increased approximately 31 percent over the fourth quarter of 2012 and increased approximately 13 percent over the third quarter of 2013. Average cost-per-click across the same network decreased approximately 11 percent over the fourth quarter of 2012 and decreased approximately two percent over the third quarter.

ASH recognizes Pakistani scientist’s research in Leukemia.

LAHORE: The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has acknowledged the services of Pakistani researchers and scientists in the field of Leukemia at the ASH annual meeting held in Denver, USA.

This was stated by Professor Dr Tanveer Akhtar of the Punjab University who had recently returned from the US, saying that the health body had praised the Pakistani scientists for their immense contribution in the field of Leukemia.

Prof Dr Tanveer Akhtar, reminiscing about the proceedings of the meeting, said that her research paper presented at the meeting had made renowned scholars admit that Pakistani scientists had great potential to contribute towards discovering new area in the field of Cancer.

Dr Tanveer informed the participants that the provision of generous funds and patronage to promote research environment in the country may inspire the scientists to achieve results at par with the developed countries, adding that almost 12 PhD’s were serving the cause of science within the available resources.

She told that the group of scientists was also working in collaboration with various research institutions in Canada, Germany, USA and China in the field of Leukemia.

The research work on Leukemia by Pakistani scientists has also been recognized and rewarded by American Associates for Cancer Research (AACR) for past three consecutive years.