Technology outsourcing and consulting firm Accenture Ltd said its quarterly profit fell due to a slower economy and a stronger U.S. dollar, although the results were better than most analysts had expected.

Accenture said on Thursday profit for its fiscal third quarter fell to $444 million, or 68 cents a share, from $469 million, or 74 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

Analysts on average had expected profit per share of 65 cents, according to Reuters Estimates.

The company also raised its earnings per share outlook for the full year to $2.67 to $2.70, from a previous range of $2.60 to $2.67.

Quarterly revenue fell to $5.15 billion from $6.10 billion, due in part to a stronger dollar, the company said.

Accenture shares rose 2.8 percent after-hours to $32.53. They closed up 0.67 percent at $31.64 on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Richard Chang)

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