Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. announced earnings results for the fourth quarter ended December 2012. The company reported that it probably earned a quarterly profit of EUR 6.1 billion, as it sold close to 500 handsets a minute and demand picked up for the flat screens it makes for mobile devices, including those for rival Apple products.

October-December operating profit jumped 89% to KRW 8.8 trillion from a year ago. That is 8.6% higher than its previous record of KRW 8.1 trillion.