Google triples profit to £524m

PROFITS at internet search engine firm Google almost tripled to £524.4 million during the fourth quarter, helped by better targeted ads, it said.

The company said revenue growth was largely in line with expectations and added that its partnerships - such as the purchase of video sharing website YouTube - were "going extremely well".

Web advertising boosted the company's fortunes, with Google aiming to produce fewer adverts that are more targeted to specific audiences.