Apple is due to exceed profit expectations thanks to the record-breaking sales of the latest generation of iPhone - the 6 and 6 Plus.

The Californian computer firm is due to announce its final quarterly profits of 2014 today which are likely to be bolstered by the runaway success of the new smartphone, which went on sale in September

It set a record for the firm, selling 10 million handsets in its first three days before going on to break another company record at the end of last year's third quarter by confirming sales of more than 40 million.

Analysts polled by market expert Fortune said they believe iPhone sales will be announced at between 60 and 70 million units - which, at the high end, would be 20 million more than were sold in 2013, the previous company record.

But iPad sales are expected to continue on a downward curve, as they have been for the last six months - falling 12% in the last quarter. Some experts have suggested that the launch of the new iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 and the lowering of the original iPad mini price to under £200 could see a return to growth for Apple's tablet.

One area that will be of interest is Apple's growth in China. The firm opened its latest retail store in the country last week, and it is predicted that China will contribute the most revenue of any country or territory in the results. It is even being suggesting that iPhone sales in China could be higher than the US for the first time.