Washington  - Nike Inc, the world's leading sporting goods manufacturer, said Wednesday that its second-quarter profits were up largely because of sales in Europe and Asia.

Nike's second-quarter net income rose 9 per cent to 391 million dollars, compared to 359.4 million in the previous year.

While the Beaverton, Oregon-based company's US sales dipped 1.1 per cent, its overseas sales rose - by 22 percent in Asia and 6.4 per cent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

"Our second-quarter results demonstrate the power of the Nike brand and the diversity of the Nike Inc portfolio," CEO Mark Parker said.

"In challenging times like these it's especially important to stay focused on what we do best - delivering the most innovative and relevant product ... that's how we continue to lead the industry, take market share from competitors and grow our business," he said.

On November 6, Nike's rival and Europe's leading sporting goods manufacturer, Adidas, withdrew its forecast for 2009 after reporting higher turnover and stagnating earnings for the third quarter of 2008. (dpa)