Microsoft reports earnings that fall short of already-reduced expectations.

SEATTLE — The uncertainty and challenges in the global economy have hit Microsoft, which on Tuesday reported

that fell short of Wall Street’s and its own expectations.

The tech giant said it had $51.9 billion in sales in the quarter ended June 30, up 12 percent from a year earlier. Profit rose 2 percent to $16.7 billion.

The results missed even Microsoft’s own reduced expectations. In early June, the company lowered its…