First quarter reports have shown a very impressive performance from Samsung.

The Korean consumer electronics group has reported better-than-expected first quarter profits of $5.4bn – up 11% on previous quarter.

Samsung's earnings had fallen for six consecutive quarters due to increasing competition in the smartphone market it used to dominate.

Analysts believe its strategy of manufacturing high-end chips for rival manufacturers including Apple is beginning to work again.

There has also been strong pre-launch interest in its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S6, which officially launches later this week.