Apple supplier Foxconn reported a 72 per cent rise in first-quarter profit, boosted by strong demand for AI servers and coming off a low base from the same period a year earlier, but the growth was lower than expected. In a separate statement, Foxconn, whose earnings took a hit last year by a T$17.3 billion ($533.88 million) writedown related to its 34 per cent stake in Sharp Corp, reaffirmed its commitment to the Japanese electronics maker, describing it as an "important asset".