UBS Research: Mac Sales Solid, iPods Continue to Improve

Mac sales for the December quarter are solid, and are being driven by Apple Computeris new MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks with Core 2 Duo, according to a research note released by UBS Research. In the short note titled "Retail Rumblings," the firm also said that iPod sales continue to show signs of improvement.

Analyst Benjamin A. Reitzes said that Mac sales in general are currently solid with MacBooks specifically being cited as "solid." The analyst also said that Appleis Intel-based Mac Pro desktops were supporting Appleis desktop efforts.

On the iPod side, the research note said that Appleis new iPod nano and iPod shuffle were driving iPod sales, even though the market as a whole is showing signs of maturation. Mr. Reitzes told investors that the success of these two new iPods are helping to support his quarterly estimates of 15.6 million units.

Lastly, he said that he expects iPod sales to continue to be strong after the holiday quarter, and that he continues, "to expect new iPods next calendar year after Macworld with the large screen video ready by the Spring."

Shares in Apple are currently trading higher at $84.57, a gain of $0.22 (+0.26%), on moderate volume of 16.7 million shares trading hands.

*In the interest of full disclosure, the author holds a small share in AAPL stock that was not an influence in the creation of this article.  

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