Google reported third-quarter revenues of USD 5.94 billion, up 7 percent from a year earlier. Google said it appears the worst of the economic slowdown is past, and the company is looking ahead with confidence in investment. Traffic acquisition costs, included in its revenues figures, totaled USD 1.56 billion in Q3, or 27 percent of advertising revenues. Google's own sites generated 67 percent of revenues in the quarter, while partner sites contributed 30 percent. Revenues in its home market the US accounted for 53 percent of the total, while the UK was at 13 percent and the remainder came from the rest of the world. Operating profit improved to USD 2.07 billion from USD 1.65 billion a year ago, with the margin rising to 35 percent from 30. Net profit rose to USD 1.64 billion or USD 5.13 per share, from USD 1.29 billion or USD 4.06 per share in the year-earlier period. Google generated net cash flow of USD 2.73 billion in the quarter, and capex reached USD 186 million. At the end of September, the company had total cash of USD 22.0 billion.
