Markets drop as worries grow

(Reuters) - "The outlook for today does not look good. On top of the worries about the exposure of funds to credit markets, now we've worries about weak U.S. economic data," said Choo Hee-yeop, deputy general manager of asset management strategy at Korea Investment and Securities.




At 0025 GMT, Tokyo's Nikkei average had slid 1.6 percent with exporters such as Canon Inc., electronics components maker Kyocera and chip-tester maker Advantest Corp. further hit by a firmer yen.


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JGBs rise after solid auction, BOJ view caps gains

(Reuters) - Futures inched up towards a two-month high touched on Monday
as Japanese stocks hovered near a four-month low and dealers
picked up shorter JGB maturities after an auction of two-year
notes attracted solid demand.




"The auction was slightly better
and the Nikkei is still dragging its feet," an analyst at a U.S.
securities house said.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

JGB futures fall from 2-mth high on rate jitters

(Reuters) - The Nikkei share average was down 1.1 percent by late
morning.




A slump in Tokyo share prices in the past week along with a
plunge in global equity markets has stirred doubts about a BOJ
interest rate increase next month, driving benchmark JGB yields
to two-month lows.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Treasuries Rise as Slide in Global Stocks Spurs Investors to Reduce Risk

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. Treasuries rose for a fourth
day as investors sold stocks and corporate bonds and sought the
relative safety of government debt.

Ten-year securities headed for a third weekly gain as Asian
stock markets slid the most in four months, extending a rout in
global equities. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average slumped 2.3
percent on speculation a worsening U.S. housing slump will slow
growth in the world's biggest economy.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

JGB futures hold near 7-wk high, good auction helps

(Reuters) - JGBs initially slipped as U.S. Treasuries steadied from this
week's gains on the subprime mortgage troubles. But as the Nikkei
share average fell 0.9 percent to a two-month low in late
trade, the market trimmed just about all its losses.




Trade was subdued as market players remained cautious before
Friday's report on consumer prices and Sunday's upper house
election in Japan. Most investors believe the Bank of Japan is
likely to raise interest rates next month.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average, Topix Fall; Toyota, Mizuho Lead Decline

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
fell 45.90, or 0.3 percent, to 17,812.52 at 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo.
The broader Topix index dropped 3.19, or 0.2 percent, to
1,750.84.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. led the
declines.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

JGB futures drift up to six-week high as stocks dip

(Reuters) - Bond investors initially sold JGB futures after U.S.
Treasuries retreated overnight from recent rallies that had been
driven by mounting problems in subprime mortgage industry that
prompted a flight to quality.




But the dip in JGBs was shallow as investors were quick to
buy them back when the Nikkei share average slipped into
negative territory to its lowest level in a month.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Japan's Nikkei 225 Average, Topix Falls; Exporters Drop on U.S. Earnings

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese shares dropped, paced by
companies that rely on the U.S. market, after Caterpillar Inc.
said its profit dropped on lower North American sales. Exporters
such as Honda Motor Co. and Komatsu Ltd. declined.

Investors also refrained from betting heavily on stocks
before the upper house election, which will be held on July 29.
The Nikkei newspaper reported yesterday Japan's ruling coalition
may lose its majority in the election, citing its own poll.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Tokyo Electric Shares Fall as Nuclear Plant May Be Shut a Year After Quake

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Tokyo Electric Power Co.
had their biggest drop in seven years on concern the company's
nuclear facility in central Japan, the world's biggest, may be
shut for a year after an earthquake caused radioactive leaks.

The stock slumped as much as 7.5 percent, the biggest
intraday decline since Feb. 18, 2000, after the Nikkei said the
shutdown will be prolonged by checks to ensure the plant will
resist future earthquakes. The company was the second-biggest
decliner on the Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Japan's Nikkei 225 Average, Topix Rise; Canon, Nippon Steel Lead Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose
105.14, or 0.6 percent, to 18,120.72 at 9:05 a.m. in Tokyo. The
broader Topix index added 7.58, or 0.4 percent , to 1766.23.

Canon Inc. and Nippon Steel Corp. led the advances.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japanese Shares Climb, Led by Sony, Sending Nikkei 225 to Seven-Year High

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese shares rose for a sixth day,
sending the Nikkei 225 Stock Average to it highest in seven
years. Sony Corp. led gains on speculation the yen's slump
against the dollar and euro boosted profits in the three months
ended June.

Retailers climbed, led by Seven & I Holdings Co., after
companies including Aeon Mall Co. reported higher income in the
first quarter.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average, Topix Index Fall; Toyota, Sony Lead Drop

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
fell 73.50, or 0.4 percent, to 18,115.13 at 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo.
The broader Topix index dropped 6.13, or 0.3 percent, to
1777.86.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Sony Corp. led the declines.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

JGBs gain on Nikkei fall, rate concerns remain

(Reuters) - Futures recovered from an early slide that had been prompted
by losses in U.S. Treasuries on Thursday, but market
participants did not expect prices to gain much further because
of a widespread view that the Bank of Japan will lift interest
rates in coming months.




September futures ended 0.18 point higher at
131.67, boosted by a 0.28 percent fall in the Nikkei share
average as stocks pulled away from a seven-year high
notched on Thursday. The lead bond contract kept its distance
from a seven-year low of 130.76 hit last week.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

JGB futures edge up but BOJ rate concerns cap gains

(Reuters) - Futures recovered from a slide early in the session that had
been prompted by losses in U.S. Treasuries on Thursday. Market
participants said deepening losses in the Nikkei share average
were giving bonds a boost.




JGBs have been finding their footing this week in the
aftermath of a heavy sell-off on concerns about climbing global
bond yields and the growing view that the BOJ will lift rates to
0.75 percent in August, which had driven the futures contract to
a seven-year low.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

South Korea's Kospi Index Gains, Led by Hyundai Heavy; Hynix Declines

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks rose. Hyundai
Heavy Industries Co. gained after Good Morning Shinhan Securities
Co. said shipyards will benefit from increasing orders for bulk
carriers.

Hynix Semiconductor Inc. dropped after the Nikkei English
News reported that Japan's Toshiba Corp. plans to boost
production of flash-memory chips by 70 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average Slips, Topix Is Little Changed; Mizuho Drops

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
fell 16.40, or 0.1. percent, to 17,818.08 at 9:03 a.m. in Tokyo.
The broader Topix index was little changed at 1761.75.

Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and Millea Holdings Inc. led
the declines.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's Nikkei 225 Average, Topix Rise; Nippon Oil, Mitsui & Co. Lead Gain

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
rose 71.22, or 0.4 percent, to 18,044.64 at 9:03 a.m. in Tokyo.
The broader Topix index added 5.29, or 0.3 percent, to
1778.13.

Nippon Oil Corp. and Mitsui & Co. led the advances.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average, Topix Index Drop; Toyota, Canon Lead Decline

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
fell 65.95, or 0.4 percent, to 17,521.64 at 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo.
The broader Topix index slid 5.87, or 0.3 percent, to
1718.51.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Canon Inc. led the declines.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's Nikkei 225 Average, Topix Fall; Mitsubishi UFJ, Komatsu Lead Drop

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
fell 34.13, or 0.2 percent, to 17,670.99 at 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo.
The broader Topix index dropped 6.08, or 0.4 percent, to
1734.00.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. and Komatsu Ltd. led
the declines.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japan's Nikkei Average, Topix Index Rise; Sumitomo Mitsui, Sony Lead Gain

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
rose 23.40, or 0.1 percent, to 17,580.27 at 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo.
The broader Topix index added 2.93, or 0.2 percent, to
1713.60.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. and Sony Corp. led the
advances.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News