Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks ended Thursday morning trading higher on a more positive outlook of the US economy.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 43.1 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 8,523.09.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was up 1.26 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 819.75.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 97.75-80 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 97.71-74 yen.

Washington  - The space shuttle Discovery undocked Wednesday from the International Space Station to head back to Earth after a week on a milestone construction mission that has doubled the capacity of the orbiting laboratory.

The mission astronauts installed a fourth set of solar panels, completing the power plant needed to double the station's electrical generating capacity. The power allows the station to sustain six long-term residents instead of the current crew of three, and more occupants could arrive as early as May.

Washington  - Discovery astronauts were preparing to undock from the space station later Wednesday to head back to Earth after completing a milestone mission that has doubled the station's capacity.

The mission astronauts installed the fourth and final set of solar panels needed to double power capacity at the station so it can hold six instead of the current three long-term residents - possibly as early as May.

Hanoi - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Vietnam will launch an aircraft component assembly factory in Vietnam in June, local media reported Wednesday.

The state-run newspaper Lao Dong quoted Stanley A Deal, Boeing's deputy chairman of Asia-Pacific sales, as saying the factory would produce wing flaps for Boeing 737 aircraft.

The company is a subsidiary of Japan's Mitsubishi corporation.

The 7-million-dollar factory, located 15 kilometres north of Hanoi, has been under construction since January 2008.

Tokyo  - Japan's exports dropped by 49.4 per cent in February, the biggest plunge on record, as global demand for cars and electronics declined, the Ministry of Finance said Wednesday.

Exports dropped to 3.5 trillion yen (35.7 billion dollars) year-on-year in February, the fifth consecutive monthly drop and the biggest since the beginning of records in 1980.

Imports were down by 43 per cent to 3.4 trillion yen, creating a trade surplus of 82.4 billion yen, down 91.2 per cent compared with the same month last year. It is the first trade surplus in five months.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks fell in early trading on Wednesday on profit-taking, breaking a two-day climb.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average dipped by 0.73 per cent, or 61.58 points to 8,426.72 by mid-trading, reversing earlier gains.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was almost flat, dropping 0.27 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 812.45.

Traders also reacted to reports that Japan's overseas exports dropped by 49.4 per cent in February year-on-year, with consumer electronics titles contributing most to the slump.