Lenovo profits mired in gloom

China's Lenovo, the world's No 3 PC brand, has joined rivals in flagging up its concerns about the weak global economy and eurozone debt crisis, overshadowing a doubling in first-quarter profits to $109m (£66m).

Buoyed by strong sales in China and other emerging markets, Lenovo said it had lifted its lagging profit margins and increased its share of key markets, helping its earnings to top analysts' forecasts.

However, its shares slid as much as 9 per cent in Hong Kong amid a broad sell-off of technology-related stocks, sparked by falls among its US peers on Wednesday night.