Seoul - Shares finished nearly 3 per cent higher Wednesday on the Seoul stock exchange on bargain hunt

Frankfurt- The world's biggest business management software maker SAP AG said Wednesday that falling revenue, the global economic downturn and the high restructuring costs resulted in first-quarter net profit falling 16 per cent to 204 million euros (269 million dollars). While the German-based group confirmed its outlook for the current year, its shares dropped 2.9 per cent to 29.30 euros following the release of the results.

SAP said that due to the continued the economic and business uncertainty it would not provide a specific outlook for software and software-related service revenues for 2009.

Snapping its three-day rising streak, the BSE-benchmark Sensex on Tuesday, toppled by over 370 points, as major market players squared off pending positions ahead of the expiry of April contracts in derivatives.

The BSE Sensex closed today lower by 370.10 points at 11,001.75 while, NSE Nifty ended down by 107.65 points at 3,362.35. The Sensex touched intraday high of 11,375.97 and intraday low of 10,961.75.

New York - Major US stock indices fell for a second straight day Tuesday as concerns over the economic impact of a growing swine- flu outbreak and the state of US banks overshadowed a massive jump in consumer confidence.

There were 64 confirmed cases of swine flu in five US states, and alerts have been raised across the globe. In Mexico, where the outbreak originated, more than 150 people have died of an influenza- type illness.

Delta Air Lines Inc led a drop in travel shares on Wall Street.

Seoul - Share

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks ended Tuesday morning trading slightly higher on pharmaceutical issues as the swine influenza spreads to ever more countries.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average inched up 38.51 points, or 0.44 per cent, to 8,764.85.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 0.99 points, or 0.12 per cent, at 834.09.

Stocks opened lower Tuesday after overnight retreats in the US market and a stronger yen.