Boeing is getting a record number of order for its planes

Net profit rose 29% to $692m (�387m; 556m euros) in the three months to 31 March, compared with $535m a year ago.

The better sales were reflected in a government report on US durable goods, which showed a 6.1% surge in March.

Despite the good news, Boeing kept its full-year earnings estimates unchanged because of uncertainty over earnings growth at its defence unit.

'Overall performance'

The company, which is battling Europe's Airbus to be the world's largest maker of commercial jets, said that total sales rose a less-than-forecast 12% to $14.26bn.

The problems at the military division weighed on Boeing's shares when the market opened in New York on Wednesday, however, the stock shook off the pessimism and joined in the market's upward trend, adding 0.5% to $85.49.

Boeing's stock has doubled in value over the past two years and set a record high of $87.25 on Monday.

The company said that the main reason for the poor performance of the space and military division was a number of strikes that delayed the launch of satellites.

However, helping offset the defence division's 6% drop in sales was a powerful 48% increase in revenues at Boeing's commercial division.

"Strong overall performance, combined with a significant increase in commercial airplane deliveries, drove this quarter's results," said Jim McNerney, Boeing's chairman, president and chief executive officer.