Nintendo of Japan's net profits more than doubled for the fiscal year, it was revealed today.

Lifted by strong sales of the DS and gains from foreign exchange rates in the company's favour, the Kyoto-based company said its group net profit surged to 87.42 billion yen (US$809.44 million; �644.25 million), from 33.19 billion yen the previous term. Sales totaled 515.29 billion yen (US$4.77 billion; �3.8 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, slightly up on the year before.

The latest news on DS sales has revealed a world-wide total of 5.2 million units being sold. The statement said the success of the handheld helped offset the slumping sales of GameCube consoles due to intense competition.

A favorable exchange rate also helped boost the value of the company's overseas earnings, as it posted 21.85 billion yen (US$202.31 million; �161.02 million) in foreign exchange-related gains for last fiscal year - a sharp reversal from 67.88 billion yen in losses it announced a year ago.

For the current fiscal year which will end in March 2006, Nintendo forecasts a group net profit of 75 billion yen (US$694.44 million; �552.72 million) and expects to see sales worth 520 billion yen (US$4.81 billion; �3.83 billion).

Nintendo shares, which have been relatively stable for the past year, fell 1.4 percent to 11,620 yen (US$107.59; �85.63) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange shortly before these earnings were announced.