Microsoft approves $40 billion share repurchase programme

(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday its board had approved a new share repurchase programme of up to $40 billion and raised its quarterly dividend.

The company's shares rose 1.3% to $140.35(112.51 pounds)in after-market trading.

Microsoft, which said it would hold its annual shareholders meeting on Dec. 4, also declared a quarterly dividend of 51 cents per share, 11% higher than the preceding quarter.

The repurchase programmme, which has no expiration date, may be terminated at any time.

The Redmond, Washington-based company returned $7.7 billion to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividends in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019.

(Reporting by Debroop Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)