Tokyo - Sharp Corp incurred a net loss for fiscal 2008 after the company introduced inventory control, cost-reduction measures and structural reforms, it said Monday. The Japanese electronics company reported a net loss of 125.82 billion yen (1.3 billion dollars) the fiscal year that ended March 31, a reversal from the profit of 101.92 billion yen the previous fiscal year.

Tokyo - Japanese electronics companies Renesas Technology and NEC Electronics have agreed to merge their business operations by April 2010 to become the nation's largest semiconductor maker and the world's third-largest chipmaker, the companies announced Monday. The move was designed to ensure the companies' survival during the global downturn. They are expected to sign the deal in July.

Renesas, a joint venture between Hitachi Ltd and Mitsubishi Electric, is the country's second-largest chipmaker after market leader Toshiba.

Tokyo - The Tokyo market closed modestly higher Monday after optimism was dampened by concerns over the spread of swine flu. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 18.35 points, or 0.21 per cent, to close at 8,726.34.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 3.05 points, or 0.38 per cent, at 833.1.

Market sentiment was boosted in morning trading after Wall Street advanced before the weekend thanks to US carmaker Ford Motor Co reported better-than-expected earnings.

Tokyo  - The Japanese government on Monday announced the steepest-ever downward projection of the nation's economic growth as the world's second-largest economy suffers its worst recession in postwar history.

The Cabinet Office said the nation's economy would contract 3.3 per cent for the current fiscal year that began April 1, revising downward from zero growth it predicted in December.

Sydney  - Shares in Lion Nathan Ltd leapt 40 per cent Monday after Australia's second-largest brewer agreed to a 6.5-billion-Australian-dollar (4.6-billion-US-dollar) takeover offer from Japanese beer maker Kirin Holdings Co Ltd.

Lion Nathan's board has agreed to sell Kirin the 54 per cent of shares it doesn't already own in the brewer that counts the beer brands Tooheys, James Boag, James Squire, Heineken, Hahn and XXXX in its stable.

The deal needs the approval of the Foreign Investment Review Board and non-Kirin shareholders.

Tokyo  - Japan on Monday decided to upgrade health inspections on travellers returning from Mexico to prevent swine flu outbreaks in the nation while pushing to develop vaccines to prevent an epidemic.

As Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso ordered his cabinet ministers at a crisis meeting held Monday to ensure public safety, the Health Ministry vowed to begin developing vaccines against swine influenza.