The world's largest athletic-shoe maker and apparel company, Nike Inc., said on Wednesday that its sales in Europe and Asia helped it record a 9 percent increase in the second quarter profit. The company also said its total revenue rose to $4.6 billion - a 6 percent increase from last year's $4.3 billion.

Despite weak domestic sales, the company's overseas sales rose 22 percent in Asia; and 6.4 percent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the company's second-biggest region after the US. Even as the world economy slowed, the company's overseas sales gain countered the 1.1 percent decline in the US.

Mark Parker, Nike president and Chief Executive Officer, said the results demonstrate the strength of the brand.

Nike also said orders scheduled for delivery from December 2008 through April 2009 increased 6 percent from a year earlier - excluding the effect of currency-exchange fluctuation - and there has been no decline in orders even in November and December.

John Shanley, a New York-based analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group LLLP, has a "positive" rating on the company's stock. In a telephone interview, he said: "Future orders are very positive. I was expecting more like 2 percent."

Commenting on the company dealing with macro-economic pressures - with tightly control inventory, and focus on investments that sustain long-term growth - Shanley said: "They are cautiously optimistic and rightly so." He praised the company's ability to perform in tough times, saying that Nike's leadership is focused on how to cope with the uncertainty of the future.