Online advertising revenue boosted Yahoo's 2Q05 profits to $754.7 million - or 51 cents a share, including an investment gain of 38 cents a share - compared with 2Q04 profit of $112.5 million, or 8 cents per share, reports ClickZ. Yahoo Chairman and CEO Terry Semel said "solid growth in the second quarter [w]as a result of our strength in both search marketing and brand advertising."

Marketing services revenue was $1.1 billion for the quarter, a 51 percent increase over last year's $723 million.

Semel predicted Yahoo would surpass the 34 percent overall growth forecast for online advertising this year. He cited automotive, CPG and financial services companies as Yahoo's top advertisers.

Semel also promised "important upgrades" in search advertiser platforms, terming them among the "highest company priorities."

Revenue from fees was $159 million, a 45 percent increase from the $109 million in 2Q04. U.S. revenues were $870 million, a 39 percent increase from the $624 million in last year's second quarter. And international revenues were $383 million, an 84 percent increase from $208 million