Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average extended its losses Friday to a two-month low after Sony Corp announced a projected record operating loss for fiscal 2008.

The Nikkei index tumbled 306.49 points, or 3.81 per cent, to close at 7,745.25, and the broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 22.36 points, or 2.81 per cent, at 773.55.

Tokyo  - Japan on Friday launched an H2A rocket carrying its Ibuki satellite on a mission to examine the effects of greenhouse gases on the Earth's atmosphere.

The Ibuki satellite is to observe for five years the concentration of carbon dioxide and methane, which cause global warming, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, which makes the H2A rocket.

The satellite is to measure levels of greenhouse gases at 56,000 locations around the globe, the agency said.

Tokyo  - The Japanese government on Friday sent 1 million dollars of relief goods to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, officials said.

Japan's assistance was aimed at helping make temporary shelters for civilian victims of Israel's military attacks on the strip, which destroyed thousands of homes.

It included 29,000 blankets, 20,000 sleeping mats and 8,000 plastic sheets and is to be sent to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

Tokyo  - Stocks declined more than 2 per cent in Tokyo Friday morning after Sony Corp announced a projected record operating loss for fiscal 2008.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunged 228.4 points, or 2.84 per cent, to 7,823.34, and the broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 16.29 points, or 2.05 per cent, at 779.62.

Tokyo  - Sony Corp on Thursday said it expected an operating loss for the fiscal year 2008 of 260 billion yen (2.9 billion dollars) after earlier projecting a
200-billion-yen profit.

It would be the first time the Japanese home electronics giant would suffer an operating loss in 14 years.

The company expected to incur a net loss of 150 billion yen for the fiscal year, which ends March 31, while it also revised downward its sales projections to 7.7 trillion yen from an initial 9 trillion yen.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks recovered from early losses Thursday to end the day higher as market sentiment was buoyed by a Bank of Japan plan to help corporate financing.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 150.1 points, or 1.9 per cent, to close at 8,051.74.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues was also up 8.76 points, or 1.11 per cent, to 795.91.