Samsung has posted a fifth consecutive record quarter of growth, with preliminary earnings for Q4 2012 indicating consolidated profit of around $8.3bn (£5.2bn), on sales of $53.6bn (£33.3bn). This is an increase on the previous quarter and nearly double the 4.66 trillion Korean won seen in the same time last year.
In 2012, it expects to make 201.05 trillion Korean won ($189bn), while operating profit is expected to be 29.01 trillion Korean won ($27.2bn). Samsung sold close to 500 mobile handsets a minute during Q4, according to Reuters. While Samsung has seen record growth, its Taiwanese neighbour HTC has seen profits plummet by 91 per cent in the same period.
The full earnings report is expected by 25 January. 
