Tokyo - Japan's industrial production plunged to an unprecedented 9.6 per cent in December and unemployment rose, as the widening global recession cut export demands, the government said Friday.
Data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry revealed a steeper drop in production as compared to the previous record low of 8.5 per cent a month earlier.
The unemployment rate climbed to 4.4 per cent from 3.9 percent, the biggest jump in 41 years.
Tokyo - Nintendo Co on Thursday reported an 18-per-cent fall in its net profit during the first nine months of the fiscal year despite strong sales of its Wii videogame console as the yen advanced against other currencies.
The Japanese videogame maker saw its net profit decline from 258.93 billion yen (2.9 billion dollars) during the same period a year before to 212.52 billion yen in the April-to-December period.
Tokyo - Sony Corp on Thursday reported its net profit plunged 94.8 per cent in the October-to-December quarter to 10.4 billion yen (116.37 million dollars) because of a strong yen and dwindling demand for electronics.
The earings compared with a 200.2-billion-yen net profit from the same quarter a year earlier.
The Japanese electronics giant suffered an operating loss of 18 billion yen in its third quarter, compared with a profit of 236.2 billion yen during the same period of 2007.
Tokyo - Toshiba Corp on Thursday revised downward its earnings forecast for the full business year that ends in March to post its first net loss in seven years as the global recession slowed demand for semiconductors and liquid crystal displays for televisions.
The Japanese home electronics company expected a net loss of 280 billion yen (3.13 billion dollars) for the full year after earlier forecasting a net profit of 70 billion yen in September.
Tokyo - Japan on Thursday executed four convicted murderers, the Justice Ministry announced, a decision expected to draw renewed protests from pressure groups.
Japan is one of the very few industrialized countries upholding capital punishment. The world's second largest economy after the United States faces regular international condemnation from human rights organizations like Amnesty International over prison conditions and its continued adherence to capital punishment.
Tokyo - Tokyo stocks ended Thursday morning trading up, following positive signals from Wall Street and the yen's weakening against the dollar.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average was up 134.28 points, or 1.66 per cent, to 8,240.57 at mid-trading, while the broader Topix index of all first section issues also rose 12.51 points, or 1.56 per cent, to 816.84.
On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 90.27-37 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 89.15-18 yen.
Tokyo - Japan's industrial production plunged to an unprecedented 9.6 per cent in December and unemployment rose, as the widening global recession cut export demands, the government said Friday.
Tokyo - Nintendo Co on Thursday reported an 18-per-cent fall in its net profit during the first nine months of the fiscal year despite strong sales of its Wii videogame console as the yen advanced against other currencies.
Tokyo - Sony Corp on Thursday reported its net profit plunged 94.8 per cent in the October-to-December quarter to 10.4 billion yen (116.37 million dollars) because of a strong yen and dwindling demand for electronics.
Tokyo - Toshiba Corp on Thursday revised downward its earnings forecast for the full business year that ends in March to post its first net loss in seven years as the global recession slowed demand for semiconductors and liquid crystal displays for televisions.
Tokyo - Japan on Thursday executed four convicted murderers, the Justice Ministry announced, a decision expected to draw renewed protests from pressure groups.
Tokyo - Tokyo stocks ended Thursday morning trading up, following positive signals from Wall Street and the yen's weakening against the dollar.
