STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: NPR's business news begins with gains at Google.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Google has reported a surge in its quarterly earnings. Profits are up 26 percent, beating expectations. Fears of a global recession have apparently not hit the online ad market, or at least not Google's large share of it. The company also says 2011 will be the biggest hiring year in its history.
Google made $2.7 billion, or $8.33 per share, in the three months ending in September. If not for expenses covering employee stock compensation, Google would have earned $9.72 per share.