Apple filed its fourth-quarter earnings results today, posting a net profit of $546m after shipping 1.61 million Mac computers and more than 8.7 million iPods.

The numbers represent a 30 per cent growth in Mac sales and a 35 per cent growth in iPod sales.

International customers were a major part of the company's growth. According to a recent financial filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), these shipments accounted for 40 per cent of Apple's $4.84bn in total revenue.

"This strong quarter caps an extraordinary year for Apple. Selling more than 39 million iPods and 5.3 million Macs while performing an incredibly complex architecture transition is something we are all very proud of," said chief executive Steve Jobs.

The company warned, however, that the earnings reports could change when the findings of an SEC stock-option investigation are announced.

The investigation, which centres on 15 cases of option grants between 1997 and 2002 being back-dated in favour of the recipient, has already cost one board member his position. 

Apple expects to restate its past earning reports following the investigation.