Investors in Japan Focus on Earnings; Sony, Daifuku, Mizuho Rise

Hiruki Nakamura
14 May, 2014
New York City

Investors turned cautious in Japan and the yen weakened and trading volume stay below 30-day average. Sony reported annual revenues increased 14% and swung to a loss. Mizuho Financial annual net increased 23%.

[R]4:30 PM Tokyo – Investors turned cautious in Japan and the yen weakened and trading volume stay below 30-day average. Sony reported annual revenues increased 14% and swung to a loss. Mizuho Financial annual net increased 23%.[/R]

Market indexes in Tokyo eased and the yen weakened after international markets registered gains.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 19.68 to 14,405.76 and the Topix index gained 4.80 to 1,183.15.

The yen closed at 102.14 against the U.S. dollar.

Commodities and resource linked stocks gained for the second day in a row despite China reporting a plunge of 25% from a year ago in new home constructions.

Stocks in Review

Toyota Motor Corp rose 30 yen to 5,680 yen. Honda Motor Co added 18 yen to 3,445 yen. Nissan Motor Co Ltd gained 0.8% to 920 yen.

Sony increased 19 yen to 1,805 yen after the electronic products maker reported revenue in the years ending in March climbed 14.3% to 7.77 trillion yen from 6.80 trillion yen a year ago.

Net in the year swung to a loss 128.4 billion yen compared to a profit of 41.5 billion yen and diluted loss per share swung to a 124.99 yen from earnings per share of a 38.79 yen a year earlier.

Softbank Corp slid 45 yen to 7,234 yen. Fast Retailing Co Ltd fell 235 yen to 32,680 yen.

Daifuku Co., Ltd gained 1.8% to 1,183 yen after the material handling systems and equipment maker said net sales in the year ending in March soared 19.5% to 241.8 billion yen from 202.3 billion yen a year ago.

Net income in the year surged 74.4% to 7.74 billion yen compared to 4.44 billion yen and earnings per share jumped to 69.96 from 40.12 yen a year earlier.

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc rose 0.5% to 204 yen after the bank and investment group reported total revenue in the year ending in March edged up 0.5% to 2.93 trillion yen from 2.91 trillion yen a year ago period.

Net income in the year jumped 22.8% to 688.41 billion yen compared to 560.5 billion yen and diluted earnings per share climbed 11.6% to 27.12 yen from 22.05 yen a year earlier.

NEXT Co., Ltd surged 10% to 926 yen after the online real estate services provider net sales in the year ending in March climbed 22.8% to 14.69 billion yen from 11.96 billion yen a year ago.

Net profit in the year surged 117.7% to 1.34 billion yen compared to 614 million yen a year earlier.

Resona Holdings Inc declined 3% to 518 yen after the bank and financial services provider reported revenue in the year ending in March slid 0.6% to 826.9 billion yen from 832.2 billion yen a year ago period.

Net income in the year plunged 19.8% to 220.6 billion yen compared to 275.1 billion yen and diluted earnings per share dropped 11.4% to 64.97 yen from 72.52 yen a year earlier.