Oracle Profit Matches Expectations

Oracle Corp. said fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 31%, in line with what analysts expected for the world’s largest maker of database software. Oracle said net income for the three months ended Nov. 30 rose to $179.5 million, or 27 cents a share, from $136.9 million, or 20 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. Sales rose 35%, to $1.31 billion from $967.2 million in the year-ago quarter. The Redwood Shores company said applications license revenue led the growth, rising 77%. Oracle stock fell 75 cents to close at $47.25 on Nasdaq. The earnings were announced after the markets closed.