NIKKEI 225

Japan's Panasonic Corp's purchase of Sanyo Electric is set to boost profits more than expected as they now plan additional cost savings by merging their accounting systems and procuring materials together, the Nikkei business daily said.

Asian stocks rose to an 11-week high on Thursday as China's manufacturing industry picked up and foreign buying boosted the technology-heavy markets of Taiwan and South Korea.

Asian stocks made a solid start to the second quarter on Thursday inching closer to two-month highs as China's manufacturing sector picked up and foreign buying boosted tech shares in Taiwan and South Korea.

World equities ticked down on Wednesday though they were headed for their fourth consecutive quarterly rise, while the dollar hit a three-month high against the yen and the Australian dollar fell.

Japanese shares rose to 18-month highs on Wednesday, continuing to eclipse their peers elsewhere in Asia, as a rebound in U.S. consumer confidence boosted investors' hopes that the global economic recovery will prove to be sustainable.

Japanese shares rose to 18-month highs on Wednesday, continuing to eclipse their peers elsewhere in Asia, as a rebound in U.S. consumer confidence boosted hopes that a global economic recovery will prove to be sustainable.

Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday as the weak U.S. dollar spurred overnight gains in commodities, boosting commodity-linked stocks in the region.

Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday as the weak U.S. dollar spurred overnight gains in commodities, boosting commodity-linked stocks in the region.

The Renault-Nissan group and Daimler AG are considering taking symbolic stakes in each other and working on bigger joint projects, sources said, in the face of intense pressure to cut costs and develop cleaner cars.

The euro hit 10-month lows against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday as investors doubted a solution for Greece's fiscal woes was on the cards, with the cautious mood holding Asian stocks below two-month highs.

Asian shares rose on Tuesday and edged back toward a two-month peak hit last week, supported by investor expectations of an ongoing recovery in the world economy, and as tech stocks drew support from gains in U.S. peers.

Japan's Nikkei average edged lower on Thursday, slipping from a two-month high hit the previous day, as recent gainers including Canon and real estate shares such as Mitsui Fudosan retreated.

The stock market continues to rally on the bullish momentum generated from favorable central bank policies from the U.S. and Japan.

World stocks climbed on Wednesday in response to a relatively optimistic outlook from the U.S. Federal Reserve combined with a pledge to keep interest rates low.

World stocks climbed on Tuesday while the dollar was corralled as investors bet the U.S. central bank will repeat its vow of keeping interest rates low for an extended period after its monthly meeting.

Asian shares struggled to keep modest gains on Tuesday and the dollar gave ground as investors trimmed long positions ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting expected to repeat a pledge to keep rates low for a long time.

Asian shares rose modestly on Tuesday, with technology stocks nosing ahead, while the dollar held its ground ahead of a Federal Reserve policy meeting expected to reiterate a pledge to keep rates low for a long time.

Japan Post Bank bought about 300 billion yen ($3.3 billion) in U.S. Treasuries in the October-December quarter, the first time the bank bought U.S. Treasuries since the start of its privatization process in October 2007, the Nikkei business daily said on Monday.

Global stocks rose to seven week highs on Friday led by bank shares after talks on U.S. banking reform collapsed, while speculation the Bank of Japan may soon ease monetary policy weighed on the yen.

U.S. stock index futures were modestly higher on Friday, a day after the S&P hit a 17-month closing high and ahead of reports that could give clues into the strength of the American consumer.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.4 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.01 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.01 percent.