Microsoft sees cloud business growth, but supply woes continue for Xbox

FILE PHOTO: A Microsoft logo is seen on an office building in New York City, U.S. on July 28, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar

(Reuters) -Microsoft Corp on Tuesday forecast a strong end to the calendar year thanks to its booming cloud business but said supply chain woes will continue to dog key units such as those producing its Surface laptops and Xbox gaming consoles.

The company beat Wall Street expectations for its fist quarter ended Sept. 30, with pandemic-induced demand for the software giant's cloud-based services driving sales.