Markets drop as worries grow

(Reuters) - "The outlook for today does not look good. On top of the worries about the exposure of funds to credit markets, now we've worries about weak U.S. economic data," said Choo Hee-yeop, deputy general manager of asset management strategy at Korea Investment and Securities.




At 0025 GMT, Tokyo's Nikkei average had slid 1.6 percent with exporters such as Canon Inc., electronics components maker Kyocera and chip-tester maker Advantest Corp. further hit by a firmer yen.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Mitsubishi Electric profit up, raises H1 outlook

(Reuters) - The announcement sent shares of Mitsubishi Electric up 6.9
percent to 1,232 yen as of 0426 GMT, while the benchmark Nikkei
average fell 0.8 percent.




Few analysts give estimates for Mitsubishi Electric's first
quarter earnings, but the result compares with Mitsubishi UFJ
Securities' estimate for a 41 billion yen profit.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Nikkei hits 4-month low on election

(Reuters) - The defeat of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling camp in upper house elections left political uncertainties, while drops in U.S. stocks on credit concerns put a lid on the overall market.




The Nikkei gave up 172.64 points to 17,111.17, after earlier falling to 17,042.66, the lowest level since April 2. The broader TOPIX index declined 0.72 percent to 1,687.39.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

JGB futures fall from 2-mth high on rate jitters

(Reuters) - The Nikkei share average was down 1.1 percent by late
morning.




A slump in Tokyo share prices in the past week along with a
plunge in global equity markets has stirred doubts about a BOJ
interest rate increase next month, driving benchmark JGB yields
to two-month lows.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Japan's Stocks Fall; Exporters Slip on U.S. Earnings, Tokyo Electric Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese shares dropped, paced by
companies that rely on the U.S. market, after Caterpillar Inc.
said its profit dropped on lower North American sales. Exporters
such as Honda Motor Co. and Komatsu Ltd. declined.

Investors also refrained from betting heavily on stocks
before the upper house election, which will be held on July 29.
The Nikkei newspaper reported yesterday Japan's ruling coalition
may lose its majority in the election, citing its own poll.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's Nikkei 225 Average, Topix Falls; Toyota, JFE Holdings Lead Decline

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese shares dropped, paced by
companies that rely on the U.S. market, after Caterpillar Inc.
said its profit dropped on lower North American sales. Exporters
such as Honda Motor Co. and Komatsu Ltd. led losses.

Investors also refrained from betting heavily on stocks
before the upper house election, which will be held on July 29.
The Nikkei newspaper reported yesterday Japan's ruling coalition
may lose its majority in the election, citing its own poll.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japanese Exporter Stocks May Advance on Yen's Drop; Murata May Decline

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese exporter shares such as
Canon Inc. may advance after the yen declined against the dollar
and euro and the U.S. Federal Reserve officials said the world's
biggest economy will weather the housing slump.

Both the Nikkei 225 Stock Average and the Topix index had
the largest drop in two weeks yesterday.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Perry Capital offers to buy stake in NEC Elec -paper

(Reuters) - The U.S. investment firm told NEC late on Tuesday it was
willing to buy 30.87 million shares in NEC Electronics for about
154 billion yen , or 5,000 yen a share, according
to the newspaper.




That would be a 65 percent premium on NEC Electronics'
average share price over the past three months, the Nikkei said.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

HSBC Is Recruiting More Bankers in Push to Win Wealthy Customers in Japan

(Bloomberg) -- HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe's biggest
bank by market value, is recruiting bankers to provide asset
management and other services to wealthy clients in Japan.

HSBC, which opened its first Japanese branch in Yokohama in
1866, said it's seeking to hire branch managers, relationship
managers and service associates in Japan, in an advertisement
carried in yesterday's Nikkei newspaper.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Japan's Nikkei 225 Average, Topix Rise; Honda Motor, Sony Lead Advance

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose
77.57, or 0.4 percent, to 18,218.51 as of 9:05 a.m. in Tokyo. The
broader Topix index added 6.73, or 0.4 percent , to 1786.40.

Honda Motor Co. and Sony Corp. led the advances.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

JGBs edge down on Nikkei gains, euro zone bond fall

(Reuters) - "JGBs opened a bit lower since Bunds fell and are extending
their losses since the Nikkei is rising," said a senior trader
for a major Japanese bank.




September 10-year JGB futures ended the morning session down
0.17 point at 131.73 , pulling back from a three-week
high of 132.23 hit on Monday.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average, Topix Rise; Sony, Fast Retailing Lead Gain

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
rose 30.77, or 0.2 percent, to 18,199.49 at 9:03 a.m. in Tokyo.
The broader Topix index added 2.94, or 0.2 percent, to
1785.38

Sony Corp. and Fast Retailing Co. led the advances.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's Real Estate Shares Drop on Report Banks Will Raise Mortgage Rates

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese property stocks fell, led by
Mitsubishi Estate Co., after the Nikkei newspaper reported the
country's four largest lenders will raise interest rates on 10-
year fixed-rate mortgages from today. Higher mortgage rates may
damp demand among consumers for buying property.

Lenders such as Mizuho Financial Group Inc. climbed.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's 10-Year Bonds Advance After Treasuries Gain on Flight to Safety

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's government bonds rose after
U.S. Treasuries gained last week as investors sought a haven
from possible hedge fund losses.

Ten-year bonds climbed for a second day as the Nikkei 225
Stock Average fell on concern losses in the U.S. subprime market
will be worse than expected, triggering a decline in global
stocks. Treasuries, which often lead Japan's bond prices, rose
June 22 after Bear Stearns Cos. offered to provide $3.2 billion
in loans to bail out one of its money-losing hedge funds.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average, Topix Index Fall; Toyota, Sony Lead Drop

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
fell 73.50, or 0.4 percent, to 18,115.13 at 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo.
The broader Topix index dropped 6.13, or 0.3 percent, to
1777.86.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Sony Corp. led the declines.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Nikkei may climb on U.S. stock gains, softer yen

(Reuters) - Japan's fourth-largest bank is in talks to issue about 100 billion yen worth of preferred shares to Dai-Ichi Mutual Life Insurance Co. to help it repay public funds, financial sources said.




"The Nikkei is likely to have a strong start after U.S. stocks continued to rise and following the softer yen," said Kazuhiro Takahashi, a general manager in the equity marketing department at Daiwa Securities SMBC.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News