Strong demand helps Nike 3Q beat Wall Street view

BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) — Nike said strong global demand for its athletic goods helped third-quarter net income beat Wall Street expectations as it readies for the World Cup in June.

The soccer tournament, held in Brazil this year, has revved up shoppers’ appetite for Nike’s clothing and gear. The company has introduced new products, including a soccer shoe and 10 national team uniforms. Orders set to be delivered between March and July rose 12 percent to $10.9 billion. That includes a 33 percent jump in Western Europe, where the World Cup is popular.