Yahoo Inc remains open to doing a deal with Microsoft Corp but also continues to explore alternative deals, its Chief Executive & co-founder, Jerry Yang, said on Tuesday.

“Our board and management team continue to be open to any and all alternatives, including a Microsoft deal,” Mr Yang told investors on a conference call to discuss the company’s first-quarter results.

Mr Yang said the company’s recent efforts to remake its business strategy related to technology, audiences and advertising customers were “starting to pay off.” Mr Yang said that while the company remains active in the Web search advertising market, its emphasis is on display advertising, which corporate marketers rely on for online brand ads. “While we see opportunities in Web search, our largest opportunity is in display advertising,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yahoo Corp got a boost in its negotiations with Microsoft, reporting a tripling in earnings in the first quarter over the same period last year to $542 million.

Revenues climbed 9 per cent to $1.82 billion, Yahoo said .

The figures exceeded analysts’’expectations, and share prices climbed 1 per cent to $28.80 — a trump card in valuation of the company in the bargain with Microsoft.