Indexes in Japan and Asia Extend Gains; Eisai, NTT, Osaka Gas in Focus

Hiruki Nakamura
13 May, 2014
New York City

Nikkei and Topix indexes in Tokyo gained and the yen strengthened on record levels in indexes in overnight trading in New York. Eisai Co said annual sales gained 4.7% but net income plunged 32%. NTT Corp annual revenues rose 2% and net gained 31%. Osaka Gas annual net tumbled 20%.

[R]4:30 PM Tokyo – Nikkei and Topix indexes in Tokyo gained and the yen strengthened on record levels in indexes in overnight trading in New York. Eisai Co said annual sales gained 4.7% but net income plunged 32%. NTT Corp annual revenues rose 2% and net gained 31%. Osaka Gas annual net tumbled 20%.[/R]

Market indexes in Japan and Asia extended gains after record levels in indexes in overnight trading in the U.S.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average jumped 275.92 or 1.9% to 14,425.44 and the Topix index gained 20.44 to 1,178.35.

The yen closed at 102.27 against the U.S. dollar. Commodities and resources focused companies gained in active trading in Tokyo.

Stocks in Review

Toyota Motor Corp jumped 136 yen to 5,650 yen. Honda Motor Co climbed 116 yen to 3,427 yen. Nissan Motor Co Ltd surged 5.1% to 913 yen.

Sony gained 32 yen to 1,786 yen.

Softbank Corp increased 118 yen to 7,279 yen. Fast Retailing Co Ltd soared 1,100 yen or 3.5% to 32,680 yen.

Eisai Co., Ltd rose 1.4% to 4,010 yen after the pharmaceutical company reported net sales in the year ending in March increased 4.7% to 6 trillion yen from 5.73 trillion yen a year ago.

Net income in the year plummeted 31.7% to 32.95 billion yen compared to 48.27 billion yen and diluted earnings per share declined to 115.46 yen from 169.31 yen a year earlier.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation rose 0.6% to 5,751 after the phone company said revenue in the year ending in March rose 2.1% to 10.9 trillion yen from 10.7 trillion yen a year ago.

Net income in the year surged 31.7% to 585.5 billion yen compared to 521.9 billion yen and diluted earnings per share declined to 115.46 yen from 169.31 yen a year earlier.

The company plans to repurchase up to 44 million shares or 3.96% of outstanding for up to 250 billion yen in total from July 1 to March 2015.

Osaka Gas Co Ltd increased 1% to 376 yen after the liquefied natural gas distributor stated net sales in the year ending in March jumped 9.6% to 1.51 trillion yen from 1.38 trillion yen a year ago period.

Net income in the year tumbled 20.5% to 41.72 billion yen compared to 52.47 billion yen and earnings per share dropped 5.4% to 20.04 yen from 25.20 yen a year earlier.

Resona Holdings Inc gained 1.3% to 534 yen after the financial services provider reported revenue in the year ending in March slid 0.6% to 826.93 billion yen from 832.18 billion yen a year ago.

Net income in the year plunged 19.8% to 220.6 billion yen compared to 275.14 billion yen and diluted earnings per share slipped 11.4% to 64.97 yen from 72.52 yen a year earlier.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation jumped 2% to 1,381 yen after the measurement and control equipment maker said sales in the year ending in March climbed 11.7% to 388.5 billion yen from 347.9 billion yen a year ago.

Net income in the year declined 16% to 12.3 billion yen compared to 14.7 billion yen a year earlier.