The computer giant IBM’s focus on software and services is paying off, with its turnover in the last quarter rising by 4% year-on-year to $17.4 billion. Profits jumped from $2.7 billion to around $3.3 billion. Investors pushed the share price up by around 8% at times in after-hours trading. In the past quarter, revenues increased both in the software division and in the consulting business, IBM announced after the close of the US stock exchange on Wednesday. For the current year, the company is forecasting further sales growth.