Japan

Japanese industrial output sees record fall in January

Japanese industrial output sees record fall in January Tokyo - Japan's industrial output underwent a record fall of 10 per cent in January amid shrinking export demand, and consumers cut spending as the recession in the world's second-largest economy worsened, the Japanese government reported Friday.

The 10-per-cent fall in industrial production in seasonally adjusted terms from December broke the previous record fall of 9.8 per cent recorded in December. It also was the fourth-straight monthly decline.

Tokyo stocks rise modestly on weaker yen

Tokyo stocks rise modestly on weaker yenTokyo  - Tokyo stocks ended Friday morning trading modestly higher on the continued strength of the US dollar against the yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 53.27 points, or 0.71 per cent, to 7,511.2.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues was also up 4.17 points, or 0.56 per cent, at 746.7.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 98.31-36 yen, up from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 97.92-95 yen. A lower yen makes Japanese goods cheaper overseas.

Tokyo market ends lower on lingering economic worries

Tokyo market ends lower on lingering economic worries Tokyo  - The Tokyo market reversed its early gains to end Thursday's trading lower as economic worries outweighed optimism created by a weaker yen.

Tokyo players bought mainly export-oriented issues in morning trading as the yen's value dropped. Market sentiment was also boosted by a report the previous day about a government plan to use public funds to buy stocks to try to avoid further declines in share prices.

But investors returned to selling in the afternoon to lock in profits from gains in the morning and on Wednesday on lingering economic worries.

Tokyo market extends gains on weaker yen

Tokyo market extends gains on weaker yenTokyo  - The Tokyo market rose Thursday as investors bought export-oriented issues on a weaker yen.

Buying was also spurred by a report the previous day about a government plan to use public funds to buy stocks to avoid further declines in share prices.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average extended its gains from Wednesday, rising 99.09 points, or 1.33 per cent, in morning trading to 7,560.31.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues also rose for a second day, up 4.67 points, or 0.63 per cent, at 750.29.

Toshiba signs deal on two US nuclear plants

Toshiba to suffer 3-billion-dollar net loss for fiscal year 2008Tokyo- Toshiba Corp has signed a contract to engineer and build two nuclear plants in the southern US state of Texas, the Japanese company said Wednesday.

Toshiba would deliver the two reactors and other equipment while offering engineering work for the project managed by the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Co, it said.

The reactors would be the first 1,400-megawatt advanced boiling-water reactors in the United States.

One was expected to start operating in 2016, and the other in 2017.

Japan's major carmakers suffer output declines in January

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