Intel raises revenue estimate for current quarter

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The world's largest maker of computer microprocessors said it now expects sales of $8.8 billion to $9.2 billion in the current quarter. Its earlier guidance was for revenue in the range of $8.1 billion to $8.9 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had been expecting $8.55 billion in revenue.

Although Intel said demand for its products is strong, the implications for the struggling personal-computer business are unclear. Intel's sales exceeded expectations in the last quarter partly because its customers, PC makers, needed to restock chip inventories after letting them run lower than normal to save money.