Tokyo - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 4 per cent Thursday on March industrial output data and optimism over a possible US economic recovery.
The Nikkei index surged 339.87 points, or 4 per cent, to close morning trading at 8,833.64, and the broader Topix index of all first-section issues also rose 29.05 points, or 3.6 per cent, to 841.04.
Investors returned from a national holiday Thursday to buy a wide range of issues after the nation's industrial production data for March came out stronger than expected.
Tokyo - Japanese smokers bent on
Beijing - Japanese Prime Minister arrived in China Wednesday for two days of talks that were expected to focus on issues including the global financial crisis and North Korea.
Tokyo - Pioneer Corp plans to raise 2.5 billion yen (25.85 million dollars) in fresh capital from one of its business partners, Honda Motor Co, the firm said Tuesday. Honda will pay 170 yen for each of Pioneer's 14.7 million new shares and to become the second-largest shareholder with a 6.54-per-cent stake after Sharp Corp, according to Japan's business daily The Nikkei.
Tokyo - Honda Motor Co reported Tuesday its net profit plunged 77.2 per cent in fiscal 2008 that ended March 31, to 137 billion yen (1.4 billion dollars) as it suffered from the yen's surge and a sales decline caused by the global economic downturn. Japan's second-largest automaker saw operating profit nosedive 80.1 per cent to 189.6 billion yen because of sales declines, increased raw material costs and a stronger yen, the company said.
Tokyo - Tokyo stocks lost more than 2 per cent to close Tuesday trading on fears of swine flu and concerns over the US economy. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunged 232.57 points, or 2.67 per cent, to close at 8,493.77.
