Microsoft CFO exits; company tops earnings expectations

Microsoft said on Thursday Chief Financial Officer Peter Klein was leaving the company, as it struggles with sharply declining personal computer sales and a lukewarm reception for its new Windows 8 operating system.

The software giant also reported third-quarter earnings that exceeded analyst expectations.
Shares of world's largest software company rose after the closing bell, following the news.
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Earnings excluding items rose to 72 cents per share from 60 cents a share in the year-earlier period .
Revenue improved to $20.49 billion from $17.41 billion a year ago.

Profit was boosted by some deferred revenue from its Windows, Office and video game operations, but cut severely by a big fine by European antitrust regulators for breaking promises relating to expanding the choice of Internet browsers on Windows.

Analysts had expected the company to report earnings of 68 cents a share on $20.5 billion in revenue, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters.