When IBM releases its fourth-quarter results on Thursday, it is confidently expected that - aided by the plunging dollar which in itself is reckoned to have increased revenue by 6% - revenue rose 10% to $28.9BN. As a result of its preliminary fourth-quarter results being issued, shares in the company climbed more than 8% today in premarket trading.

"The broad scope of I.B.M.'s global business - led by strong operational performance in Asia, Europe and emerging countries - drove these outstanding results," said Samuel J. Palmisano, the company's chief executive, in an accompanying statement.