After a new Tankan report on business sentiment from the Bank of Japan came out about as expected, the Tokyo equities markets were up on Friday. The Nikkei 225 added 0.5 percent to 16,914.31, while the Topix index gained 0.3 percent to 1,657.40. Even though the Tankan figures were seen as positive, analysts are still convinced that the Bank will decline to raise interest rates when it meets next week.

In the tobacco sector, Japan Tobacco was 3.1 percent higher to ¥597,000 after it said it is talking to UK company Gallaher about a purchase.

The electronics sector added 0.5 percent as a whole, and Sony gained 1.6 percent to ¥5,050.

Domestically, the retail sector was up 0.4 percent, while Japan’s largest retailer, Aeon, was 1 percent higher to ¥2,575.

The securities sector also saw gains. Nomura Holdings added 1.2 percent to ¥2,165, while Daiwa Securities Group was up 1.4 percent to ¥1,336.

Transport sectors were driven lower by an increase in crude oil prices. Domestic airline All Nippon Airways dropped 0.9 percent to ¥433. Among shippers, Mitsui OSK was 0.5 percent lower to ¥1,110 and Nippon Yusen fell 1.1 percent to ¥847.

The rise in oil prices was good news for Inpex, however, which added 2.1 percent on the session to ¥1,010,000.

Export-related stocks were higher on Thursday in Tokyo as the yen continued to stay weak and as new data was released in the United States that showed retail sales rose 1 percent in November. The Nikkei 225 was 0.8 percent higher to 16,829.20, its highest close in seven months, while the Topix index also ended with a gain of 0.8 percent, to 1,651.85. Meanwhile, the Mothers index of small and mid-caps gained 1.7 percent to close at 1,144.42.

The gains in US sales helped the electronics sector. While Pioneer dropped 1.8 percent to ¥1,633 on a downgrade from “buy” to “neutral” from Nomura Securities, others in the sector benefited from the new sales numbers. Matsushita Electric Industrial was 0.6 percent higher to ¥3,345. Canon gained 1.7 percent to ¥6,650. Sony added 1.8 percent, helped along by its insistence that it would meet its target of shipping 3 million PlayStation 3 game consoles globally by the end of the month and that 6 million units will be shipped by the end of March.

In the tobacco sector, no news was not necessarily good news for investors. There was nothing new on a possible bid by Japan Tobacco for UK tobacco company Gallaher. This lack of fresh information sent Japan Tobacco 2.4 percent lower to ¥579,000 just a day after reaching its highest share price ever.

The Nikkei 225 and the Topix index both saw gains on Wednesday as export-focused stocks were up, but gains were limited by declines in utilities and in the consumer finance sector. The Nikkei added 0.3 percent to 16,692.93, while the Topix gained 0.2 percent to 1,639.19. Meanwhile, the Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks dropped 1.1 percent to 1,125.85.

In the retail sector, department stores saw gains but weren’t able to lift the sector as a whole. Takashimaya was 1.1 percent higher to ¥1,717, while Isetan ended 1.6 percent higher to ¥2,150. On the other hand, Seven & I dropped 0.6 percent to ¥3,630.

Exporters that saw gains included Canon, which added 1.1 percent to ¥6,540. In the electronics sector, Sony was 1.9 percent higher to ¥4,880. Sharp, however, dropped 1.5 percent to ¥2,040 on the news that it is being investigated for price fixing of liquid crystal displays.

Utilities were down on profit-taking. Tokyo Electric Power fell 0.5 percent to ¥3,720, while Kansai Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power each dropped 0.7 percent to ¥3,050 and ¥2,895 respectively.

The consumer finance sector declined after parliament passed a bill that will cut the maximum amount of interest the lenders can charger their customers. Takefuji was 1.1 percent lower to ¥4,470, while Aiful fell 1.6 percent to ¥3,610 and Credit Saison dropped 1.9 percent to ¥4,100.

The Tokyo equities markets saw gains on Monday, despite investor caution ahead of a decision on US interest rates by the US Federal Reserve and the release of the latest Tankan survey from the Bank of Japan, both due soon. Also limiting gains was a significant decline in the consumer finance sector. The Nikkei 225 and the Topix index each added 0.7 percent on the session, to 16,527.99 and 1,627.97 respectively.

The consumer finance sector’s declines came after UBS forecast that lending would be down b y 30 percent in the next three years. Aiful dropped 3.4 percent to ¥3,660, while Takefuji fell 4 percent to ¥4,530 and Acom was 6 percent lower to ¥4,260.

In the tobacco sector, Japan Tobacco added 2.9 percent to ¥566,000, the third session of gains in a row for the company, as talk continued concerning its bid for UK tobacco company Gallaher.

Consolidator rumors sent the steel sector higher on the session even though some analysts see a successful hostile takeover of any Japanese steel company as only a slight possibility. Kobe Steel added 2.3 percent to ¥402, while Sumitomo Metal Industries gained 3.2 percent to ¥482. JFE was 3.8 percent higher to ¥5,720 and Nippon Steel was up 4 percent to ¥570.

The automobile manufacturing sector saw gains on a weakening yen. Toyota gained 1.4 percent to ¥7,140, while Honda Motor added 1.7 percent to ¥4,140.

Meanwhile the Osaka-listed games company Nintendo added 3.5 percent to ¥28,650 on data showing that sales of its Wii video game console are booming in the US.

Equities markets in Tokyo were lower on Friday after new data showed that core machinery orders in the private sector were lower than had been anticipated. The Nikkei 225 dropped 0.3 percent to 16,417.82, while the Topix index was 0.4 percent lower to 1,616.34

Reacting to the new figures on orders, camera-maker Nikon fell 1.6 percent to ¥2,460.

In the electronics sector, Sanyo was 3 percent lower to ¥159 as analysts said that it has dragged its feet in restructuring efforts after issuing a warning of profits last month. Sanyo was not helped by a recall of handsets by NTT DoCoMo due to faults in batteries manufactured by Sanyo. NTT was also lower, falling 1.7 percent to ¥177,000.

Domestically-focused sectors also saw declines. Among retailers, Seven & I Holdings was down 1.3 percent to ¥3,670. Meanwhile, Mizuho Financial Group dropped 0.6 percent to ¥828,000.

The tobacco sector saw gains after the news that UK cigarette manufacturer Gallaher said that it has received an approach. Japan Tobacco added 4 percent in a second day of gains to close at ¥550,000.

Tokyo equities markets were higher on Thursday even though the non-ferrous metals sector declined by 0.4 percent after commodities prices fell in the overnight hours. The Nikkei 225 added 0.6 percent to 16,473.36, while the Topix index gained 0.5 percent to 1,622.77.

The recent advances in the consumer finance sector seemed to be slowing down. Takefuji remained steady at ¥4,770 and Credit Saison was 0.9 percent higher to ¥4,300. Only Aiful managed a significant gain, adding 4.1 percent to ¥3,850.

Two companies made their trading debuts on the session, but both IPOs suffered losses on their first day. Independent investment research business Japaninvest debuted with an IPO price fo ¥150,000 but closed down to ¥135,000. Meanwhile, internet service provider Nifty’s IPO price was ¥210,000; it ended the session at ¥203,000.

In the telecommunications sector, results were mixed. KDDI added 0.3 percent to ¥784,000, but Softbank dropped 0.4 percent to ¥3,475 and NTT DoCoMo fell 1.1 percent to ¥180,000 on the news that it has lost subscribers for the first time.

Among companies that deal in non-ferrous metals, Toho Zinc dropped 0.4 percent to ¥979, while Sumitomo Metal Mining fell 0.7 percent to ¥1,524 and Mitsui Mining $ Smelting was 1.3 percent lower to ¥551.

The Nikkei 225 closed at 16,371.28 on Wednesday, a gain of 0.7 percent on the session and its highest close in a month. The Topix index was also higher, ending 1 percent higher to 1,615.17. Meanwhile, the Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks was 1 percent higher to 1,116.51. The gains were largely on advances in domestic sectors.

The securities sector was 1.7 percent higher as a whole, helped by gains in stocks that have brokers convinced that individual investors will come back to the market. Nomura Holdings and Nikko Cordial each matched the sector by adding 1.7 percent on the session, to ¥2,080 and ¥1,477 respectively. Daiwa Securities gained 2.3 percent to ¥1,335.

Real estate also did well, with the sector adding 1.5 percent. Sumitomo Realty & Development was 1.6 percent higher to ¥3,790. Mitsui Fudosan added 1.8 percent to ¥2,835, bringing its gains since the middle of June to over 30 percent.

Electricity generators were up substantially. Tohoku Electric Power gained 2.3 percent to ¥2,845, while Kyushu Electric Power was 3 percent higher to ¥3,050 and Kansai Electric Power added 3.3 percent to ¥3,120.

The consumer finance sector was still on the rise. Jaccs gained 2.2 percent to ¥827, Takefuji added 2.6 percent to ¥4,770, Credit Saison was up 3.4 percent to ¥4,260, and Promise was 3.9 percent higher to ¥4,000.

The Tokyo equities markets were lower on Tuesday as investors worried about interest rates at home as well as the state of the US dollar and how export-focused business would be affected if it continues to decline. The Nikkei 225 fell 0.2 percent to 16,265.76. The Topix dropped even more, declining 0.6 percent to 1,598.89.

The worries of export-related sectors were illustrated by declines in the electronics sector, which dropped 0.5 percent as a whole. Sharp and Sony each fell 0.9 percent, to ¥1,910 and ¥4,510 respectively. Transport equipment fared even worse, as the sector dropped 0.7 percent.

Monday’s fall in oil prices benefited the airlines and shipping sectors. Shipping was up 2.7 percent as a whole. Nippon Yusen added 2.3 percent to ¥838, while Kawasaki Kisen gained 3 percent to ¥864 and Mitsui OSK was 3.1 percent higher to ¥1,091.

All Nippon Airways added 0.7 percent to ¥425 not only after oil prices fell but on the news that they are in merger talks with South Korea’s Asiana Airlines.

The lower oil prices, however, sent shares in Inpex 3.4 percent lower to ¥995,000.

In the retail sector, Fast Retailing was 5.7 percent higher to ¥10,910 after it said that same-store sales were up 8 percent in November over the same period last year, helped by cold weather clothing sales.

Tokyo’s major stock indices were nearly unchanged on Monday, with the Nikkei 225 slightly lower and the Topix index slightly higher. However, the Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks continued its gains with as it gained 1.1 percent to 1,158.58. The Nikkei closed 0.1 percent lower to 16,303.59, while the Topix added .2 percent to 1,607.74.

Domestic sectors were generally higher. Real estate was 1.5 percent higher as a sector, with Mitsui Fudosan gaining 1.1 percent to ¥2,780 and Mitsubishi Estate adding 1.7 percent to ¥2,960.

The consumer finance sector was also higher as it continues to come back from the imposition of a government cap on the amount of interest lenders can charge their customers. Credit Saison added 2.2 percent to ¥4,190, while Promise gained 3.3 percent to ¥4,020. Takefuji was 3.5 percent higher to ¥4,740 and Aiful was up 5.4 percent to ¥3,880.

Nippon Steel added 1.3 percent to ¥528 when it said it is thinking about purchasing a stake in China’s largest steel company, Baosteel.

Nissan Motor was lower, dropping 1.4 percent to ¥1,393 after it said November sales were down in both the domestic market and in the United States.

Tech sectors also saw declines after the Nasdaq Composite dropped last week in the US. Semiconductor-related Advantest was 0.8 percent lower to ¥6,030. In the electronics sector, Sony dropped 1.5 percent to ¥4,550.

New data on the growth of the US economy helped the Tokyo equities markets to gains on Thursday. Both export-focused and domestic stocks benefited. The Nikkei 225 added 1.2 percent to 16,274.33, while the Topix index gained 1.5 percent to 1,603.03. The Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks did ever better, ending 2.5 percent higher to 1,152.81.

Domestically, the securities and consumer finance sectors were higher. Consumer finance companies, which have had a bad year as the government made attempts to limit how much interest they can charge customers on loans, saw especially large gains. Credit Saison gained 6.5 percent to ¥4,080, while Takefuji added 9.7 percent to ¥4,630 and Aiful jumped 10.8 percent to ¥3,700.

The securities sector was 3.6 percent higher as a whole. Daiwa Securities was 3 percent higher to ¥1,327, while Nomura Holdings added 3.8 percent to ¥2,030 and Nikko Cordial gained 3.9 percent to ¥1,430.

With crude oil prices still rising, upstream oil company Inpex was 1.6 percent higher to ¥997,000.

Automobile manufacturers also managed advances. Toyota added 1.3 percent to ¥7,020, while Honda Motor gained 2.2 percent to ¥4,100. Meanwhile, construction machinery manufacturer Komatsu was 2.7 percent higher to ¥2,105.

Data showing that factory output in Japan was up a seasonally-adjusted 1.6 percent in October sent the Tokyo equities markets higher on Wednesday. The Nikkei 225 went back over the 16,000 mark, ending the session 1.4 percent higher to 16,076.20. The Topix index added 1.6 percent to 1,580.10. The best factory performance came in the automobile manufacturing and semiconductors sectors, both of which saw gains on the session.

In the semiconductors sector, Advantest gained 1.5 percent to ¥6,060, while Elpida Memory was 3 percent higher to ¥5,550. Meanwhile among carmakers, Nissan Motor was up 0.7 percent to ¥1,299 and Toyota added 1.5 percent to ¥6,930.

The securities sector also saw gains. Nomura Holdings gained 3.7 percent to ¥1,955, while Daiwa Securities added 4.4 percent to ¥1,288. Banks did well, too, with larger banks seeing bigger gains than smaller ones could manage. Sapporo Hokuyo, based in Hokkaido, was up 0.9 percent to ¥1,110,000, while Bank of Fukuoka, which has its center of operations in Kyushu, gained 1.1 percent to ¥856. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi UFJ was 2.1 percent higher to ¥1,450,000.

The transport sector was up after Credit Suisse hiked target share prices there. Nippon Yusen gained 2.9 percent to ¥804, while Kawasaki Kisen was up 3.1 percent to ¥828 and Mitsui OSK added 5 percent to ¥1,046.

In Hong Kong on Tuesday, the Hang Seng index dropped 2.9 percent to 18,639.53. The index fell 564.48 points, its worst one-day loss since the day after the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001. The declines came after recent gains that sent the Hang Seng to an all-time closing high of 19,265.32 just last Thursday.

The worst of the declines came in the banking and real estate sectors. Also dropping substantially was exporter Li & Fung, which fell 4.1 percent to HK$22.05 on Wal-Mart’s statement of lower sales in November. Among mainland banks see significant losses were Commercial Bank of China and Bank of China, which were each 5.3 percent lower, to HK$3.76 and HK$3.56 respectively. China Construction Bank dropped 6.4 percent to HK$3.79. In the real estate sector, Sung Hung Kai dropped 4 percent to HK.95 and Cheung Kong was 5.1 percent lower to HK$90.55.

In Tokyo on Tuesday the equities markets were mixed, with the Nikkei225 down 0.2 percent to 15,855.26 while the Topix added 0. Percent to 2,555.11. The Mothers market of small and mid-cap stocks gained 1.5 percent to 1,118.55.

Export stocks were generally lower. In the automobile manufacturing sector, Toyota fell0.7 percent to ¥6,830 while Honda dropped 2.5 percent to ¥3,940. The electronics sector also saw losses. Sanyo Electric was 1.2 percent lower to ¥168 on the announcement that it will see losses for the third year in a row, while Sony dropped 1.7 percent to ¥3,970.

The real estate sector added 1.4 percent as a whole, with Sumitomo Realty & Development gaining 1.5 percent to ¥3,480. In the telecommunications sector, meanwhile, Softbank was up 2.4 percent to ¥2,370. Still, not all domestic sectors saw positive movement. The retail sector dropped 0.6 percent, with Aeon down 0.8 percent to ¥2,660.

In Tokyo on Monday equities markets saw gains, especially in domestically-focused stocks, as the Nikkei 225 added 1 percent to 15,885.38 and the Topix index ended the session 1 percent higher as well, at 1,553.01.

Export-focused stocks did not have as good a day of it. In the electronics sector, Sony dropped 0.7 percent to ¥4,570 after it said that eight of its best-selling models of digital cameras were defective, becoming unable to take pictures when exposed to heat and humidity. Sanyo, meanwhile, fell 5.6 percent to ¥170 as it announced another 2,200 employee layoffs and said it would end the fiscal year with losses for the third year in a row on declining mobile phone sales both in the US and domestically.

Automobile manufacturers saw declines as well. Toyota was 0.2 percent lower to ¥6,880, while Honda Motor was down 0.5 percent to ¥4,040.

Some of the domestic stocks that saw gains on the session were helped by broker upgrades. Fixed-line telecommunications company NTT added 2.3 percent to ¥578,000 on an increased target share price from Morgan Stanley. All Nippon Airways was 3.2 percent higher to ¥423 on an upgrade from Nikko Citigroup, which cited strong demand for international flights. Pharmaceutical company Eisai gained 3.3 percent to ¥6,240 on both a ratings upgrade and a raised target share price from UBS.

The Tokyo equities markets were substantially higher on Wednesday. The Nikkei 225 added 1.1 percent to 15,914.23 and the Topix index gained 1.3 percent to 1,552.87, while the Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks was up 6 percent to 1,069.72 following multi-year lows reached earlier in the week. The gain in the Mothers index came as investors came to believe that stocks listed there have fallen enough to qualify as bargains.

Gains in the prices of metals took the non-ferrous metals sector 4.1 percent higher, with Sumitomo Metal Mining adding 3.4 percent to ¥1,414. Oil prices that were up Tuesday due to bad weather in Alaska sent Inpex 4.6 percent higher to ¥937,000.

Domestic sectors saw gains as well. The banking sector was up 2 percent as a whole, with Mitsubishi UFJ adding 2.2 percent to ¥1,420,000. Seven & I gained 2.3 percent to ¥3,500 in a retail sector that was 2.8 percent higher as a whole. The real estate sector was up 3 percent, with Mitsui Fudosan adding 2.1 percent to ¥2,620.

Telecommunications and internet company Softbank saw a gain of 8.4 percent on the session, to ¥2,320.

Among losers on the day was electronics maker NEC, dropping 5.6 percent to ¥557 on a report that showed losses in the first half and on a 64 percent downward revision in its prediction for the full year.

Tokyo equities markets moved very little on Tuesday after Monday’s declines. Banks were still weak, but the consumer finance and electronics sectors saw gains. The Nikkei 225 added 0.1 percent to 15,734.14, while the Topix index dropped 0.1 percent to 1,532.95.

Bridgestone dropped 1.6 percent to ¥2,405 in reaction to Monday’s announcement by the tire maker that it is putting off its earnings target by another two years and will not reach the goal of 5 percent net profit margins until at least 2010.

Banks were hurt by data showing that core operations were hurt by lending margins that had tightened. Mizuho Financial was 2.2 percent lower to ¥805,000.

On the other hand, consumer finance were higher as some investors and hedge funds have begun to consider them to be bargains. Within the sector, Takefuji added 1.1 percent to ¥4,010.

The shipping sector did will on lower oil prices overnight, with Nippon Yusen gaining 2.1 percent to ¥768. The drop in oil prices did not help oil company Inpex, which dropped 0.7 percent to ¥896,000.

Tech sectors saw gains on the session, with Tokyo Electron adding 0.4 percent to ¥8,600. Among semiconductors, Advantest was 1.4 percent higher to ¥5,950.

Investor worries about the US economy helped send the Tokyo equities markets significantly lower on Monday. The Nikkei 225 was 2.3 percent lower to 15,725.94, while the Topix index fell 2.5 percent to 1,533.94. The Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks declined even further, dropping 6.2 percent to 1,022.54. Another possible reason for the declines were remarks from the head of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, who said that share price declines recently are due to an upcoming end to tax breaks on Japanese shares.

Export-focused sectors were lower in the face of bad economic news from the United States, including a drop in housing starts in October. In the automobile manufacturing sector, Honda Motor was 2.6 percent lower to ¥4,100. In the semiconductors sector, Advantest fell 4.1 percent to ¥5,870. Among electronics companies, Sanyo Electric dropped 12.7 percent to ¥179 on rumors that it could see a losing full-year report.

With crude oil prices still dropping, Inpex Holdings was 3.4 percent lower to ¥902,000.

The banking sector saw losses on concerns that lending might have slowed down. Mitsubishi UFJ fell 2.8 percent to ¥1,380,000, while Mizuho Financial was 3.1 percent lower to ¥823,000.

In Tokyo on Friday both the Nikkei 225 and the Topix index fell by 0.5 percent, to 16,091.73 and 1,573.54 respectively. Some of the declines were due to declines in the oil sector as crude oil prices fell, while the banking sector was also lower.

The semiconductors sector saw gains on the session on a report from the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan said that chip equipment is in high demand globally. Tokyo Electron was 2.8 percent higher to ¥8,930.

The banking sector was 1.1 percent lower as a whole after the Bank of Japan’s governor did not make hawkish comments about interest rates when the Bank declined to raise the rate when they met Thursday. Analysts are convinced that higher interest rates will benefit banks because of the income they will receive from higher interest payments on loans will outweigh the interest they pay to depositors. Mizuho Financial dropped 0.8 percent to ¥849,000.

In the real estate sector, Sumitomo Realty & Development fell 3.4 percent to ¥3,410 even though its reported that its consolidated recurring profit was up 83 percent. The decline was attributed to profit-taking.

The drop in oil prices sent Inpex down 3.5 percent to ¥934,000. Despite the decline in oil prices, the air transport sector was also lower, dropping 0.9 percent as a whole. Japan Airlines fell 1.4 percent to ¥217.

The Tokyo equities markets were lower on Thursday after the Bank of Japan chose to maintain interest rates at their current level. The Nikkei 225 dropped. 0.5 percent to 16,163.87, while the Topix index was 0.6 percent lower to 1,582.04. Declines came in both domestic and export-focused sectors.

Real estate was one exception to the declines on the day, as the sector as a whole gained 0.3 percent on the expectation that land prices will soon emerge from deflation nationwide. In the oil sector, Inpex added 1.9 percent to ¥968,000 on an upgrade of its full year expectations for recurring profits.

The second-largest advertising company in Japan, Hakuhodo, added 4.9 percent to ¥7,010 on an upgrade from “neutral” to “outperform” from Credit Suisse, citing the company’s apparent undervaluation.

Nissin Food gained 5.5 percent to ¥3,630 on an increased recommendation from Merrill Lynch, from “sell” to “buy”, after the instant noodle maker bid for Myojo Foods. Myojo gained 2.6 percent to ¥883.

Among losers, the insurance sector dropped 1.9 percent as a whole, with general insurer Sompo Japan 1.6 percent lower to ¥1,411. Also declining was the transport equipment sector, which fell 1 percent. Toyota dropped 0.8 percent to ¥7,230.

Tokyo equities markets saw decline on Monday as the Nikkei 225 fell 0.6 percent to 16,022.46 after going below 16,000 earlier in the day. The Topix index was 0.8 percent lower to 1,568.76.

The losses came on anticipated gross domestic product figures, due Tuesday, which many expect will say that the Japanese economy only grew at a 1 percent annual rate in the third quarter. If these figures turn out to be correct, it would be the slowest expansion in the Japanese economy since 2004. Furthermore, data released Friday showed that machinery orders were down 7.4 percent in September from the same month last year. Both news items increased concerns that Japan’s economic recovery is losing momentum.

Declining demand for fixed-line telephones led to a 9.4 percent drop in operating profits in the fiscal first half for NTT, which dropped 1 percent on the session to ¥571,000.

Video game and slot machine maker Sega Sammy fell 8.4 percent to ¥2,030 on a full-year profit prediction that was lowered by 20 percent.

In the retail sector, Fast Retailing closed 2.3 percent lower to ¥9,990. In other domestically-focused sectors, SMFG, one of Japan’s leading banks, dropped 1.6 percent to ¥1.22 million, while machinery products manufacturer Fanuc fell 0.9 percent to ¥10,360.

The Tokyo equities markets were lower on Wednesday on sell-offs in the telecommunications sector. The Nikkei 225 dropped 16,215.74, a decline of 1.1 percent, while the Topix index was 1.2 percent lower to 1,597.50.

The automobile manufacturing sector saw gains. Toyota Motor added 1.8 percent to ¥7,230 after it reported record profits in an interim report and predicted that operating profits for the full year will be at ¥2,200 billion. Isuzu Motor, meanwhile, added 12.1 percent to ¥465 on the news that Toyota will acquire a 5.9 percent share in the company.

In the telecommunications sector, Softbank dropped 4.1 percent to ¥2,340 in anticipation of the release of an earnings report. After the close, it said that it had seen profit in the first half of its fiscal year on acquisitions in its telecoms operations and better performance in its internet business.

Astellas Pharma was down 1.7 percent to ¥5,200 on a reduced full-year prediction and on negative remarks from UBS.

Japan Airlines was 1.4 percent lower to ¥218 on a report that its operating profit was down by half in the first half of its fiscal year and after it said it was cutting its full-year forecast by 24 percent. The air carrier said that its first half profit was affected by slow demand for its domestic flights.