NEW YORK (AP) - Accenture Ltd., a Bermuda-incorporated company, will slash 1,500 jobs from its work force, the second round of layoffs at the giant consulting firm this year as it continues to contend with the global economic slowdown.

Accenture, which was formerly named Andersen Consulting, said Friday that the layoffs will reduce its staff of 75,000 by about two percent. About 1,000 consultants will be cut in the United States and the remaining 500 jobs will include support positions world wide.

In June, the company announced that it was eliminating 600 support jobs and trimming another 800 positions through voluntary sabbaticals lasting between six months and a year. Accenture said that it would extend the sabbatical programme to consultants in Europe and Asia.

The latest round of layoffs comes less than a month after the company raised $1.67 billion in one of the largest initial public offerings of the year.

Accenture's stock rose 47 cents to close at $14.52 in trading Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.

Accenture also said Friday that it would repurchase up to $150 million worth of its common stock. Accenture said in a statement that it believes its shares are undervalued now and the buyback represents an attractive investment opportunity.