Ariba tops Q3 estimates

Ariba posted a smaller-than-expected loss in its third quarter Wednesday, losing $11.3 million, or 5 cents a share, on sales of $80.7 million.

First Call Corp. consensus expected the B2B software and services provider to lose 8 cents a share in the quarter.

Ahead of the earnings report, Ariba shares moved up 12 3/8 to 103 1/2. In after-hours trading, the stock roared up to 116.

The $80.7 million in sales marks a stunning 578 percent jump from the year-ago quarter when it lost $6 million, or 11 cents a share, on sales of $11.9 million. Full story. -- Larry Barrett, ZDNet Inter@ctive Investor