NIKKEI 225

Honda Motor Co will likely post an operating profit of 60 billion yen ($660 million) for the April-September first half, beating its forecast for a loss on cost-cutting and sales of fuel-efficient cars, the Nikkei business daily reported on Thursday.

* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 SPc1 down 0.24 percent, Dow Jones DJc1 futures down 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 NDc1 futures down 0.34 percent.

Profit taking in technology stocks pushed Asian shares slightly lower on Wednesday, though they remained near a 15-month high, while some stability in the U.S. dollar and a rise in inventories knocked oil below $79 a barrel.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.24 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.34 percent.

Profit taking in the technology sector weighed on Asian stocks on Wednesday, though they stuck close to a 15-month high, while some stability in the U.S. dollar and a rise in inventories pushed oil below $79 a barrel.

World stocks hit a new 12-month high on Tuesday, powered by strong results from Apple Inc and Texas Instruments and helping to push the dollar to a new 14-month low against a basket of currencies.

Global stocks extended gains to a one-year high on Tuesday, up 75 percent from a crisis low after strong sales numbers from Apple Inc suggested U.S. consumption is returning.

Creditors of Japan Airlines Corp have rejected the struggling carrier's restructuring plan and are pushing for a cut in debt waivers and details of the use of state funds, a source familiar with the matter said.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a rebound on Wall Street on Monday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.46 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.26 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.52 percent at 3.30 a.m. EDT.

Buoyant corporate earnings lifted investors sentiment again on Thursday, sending world stocks to near 13-month highs.

Asian shares hit a new 14-month high on Friday on investor optimism over the global economy, while the dollar rose on short-covering following its slide earlier in the week.

Asian shares hit a fresh 14-month high on Friday on optimism over U.S. earnings and the global economy, while the U.S. dollar got a reprieve after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated monetary policy would have to be tightened as a recovery takes hold.

Japanese government bonds dipped on Monday and 10-year futures pulled back from a six-month high as market players sold to hedge and make room for a 2.1 trillion yen ($23 billion) 10-year auction the next day.

World stocks flirted with gains after two sessions of losses on Monday with Japan's Nikkei hitting an 11-week closing low but Europe climbing and Wall Street looking set for a positive start.

World stocks flirted with gains after two sessions of losses on Monday with Japan's Nikkei hitting an 11-week closing but Europe climbing.

The dollar fell and Asian stocks steadied near three-week lows on Monday after weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs data heightened investor caution ahead of the third-quarter corporate results season.

Asian shares fell on Friday as disappointing U.S. manufacturing data raised concern that its economic recovery may not be as fast as thought, while the dollar remained firm as investors booked profits on gains in higher-yielding currencies.

Asian shares fell on Friday as disappointing U.S. manufacturing data raised concerns that its economic recovery may not be as fast as previously thought, while the dollar remained firm as investors booked profits on higher-yielding currencies.

Asian shares fell on Thursday after negative news on U.S. jobs and manufacturing pointed to a patchy recovery in the world's largest economy, and as dollar weakness sparked concerns for exporters around the region.

Asian shares fell on Thursday after a surprise drop in manufacturing in the U.S. heartland cast doubts on the strength of a global recovery, while the dollar was on the back foot against higher-yielding currencies.

Toyota Motor Corp said it will recall some 3.8 million vehicles in the United States because of the risk that a loose floormat could force down the accelerator, a problem suspected of causing crashes that have killed five people.