US information technology multinational Hewlett Packard (HP; HPQ.NYSE) edged past Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group (0992.HKG) to regain the position as the world’s largest PC provider in the fourth-quarter last year, Bloomberg reported, citing research firm Gartner (IT.NYSE, GGRA.FRA). Although Lenovo’s sales grew 8.2% year-on-year, HP’s strength in the professional PC market helped it overtake Lenovo, Gartner said in a Monday report. HP shipped 16.2% of PCs in the fourth quarter, up from 15.5% in the same period last year, while Lenovo’s market share increased to 15.5% from 13.6% last year. HP is trying to fight slowing growth, as consumers switch from PCs to tablets. Lenovo’s shipments to the Middle East, Europe and Africa declined for the second quarter in a row, falling 9.6% to 28.1 million PCs, according to Gartner.