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Friday 12th March

Amazon Profits Rise 71% After Strong Festive Trading

Posted at 7:39AM Friday 29 Jan 2010

Profits at online retail giant Amazon leapt by 71% in the last three months of 2009 as shoppers spent more than ever during the festive season.

Amazon reported a net profit of $384m (£238m), up from $225m in the same quarter a year ago.

Sales rose 42% to $9.5bn, helped by favourable changes in foreign exchange rates, the firm said.

American entrepreneur, Etan Ilfeld is purchasing the business in its entirety for an undisclosed sum

The shortlist for regional winners has been unveiled in the race to win the influential 2010 Commonwealth Writers' Prize

New book industry action group formed to co-ordinate book promotions and represent the trade on common issues

First Capital Connect launched a book club and gave away 17,000 samples of its first Book of the Month

One of Scotland's leading authors last night said she was not in favour of the plan to set up a special academy to honour the nation's finest writers

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