NIKKEI 225

Toyota Motor Corp has told its parts makers that it is planning global output of over 10 million vehicles in 2008, up more than 6 percent from its plans this year, the Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday.

Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.87 percent on Monday as exporters such as Canon Inc. lost ground on a tumble on Wall Street and a stronger yen, while bank shares slid again on subprime lending worries and much weaker first-quarter earnings than expected.

Asian stock markets tumbled on Monday with financial shares such as Macquarie Bank hit by global credit jitters, while fresh concerns about the health of the U.S. economy knocked the dollar lower.

Asian shares slid on Monday after U.S. stocks suffered a second day of heavy losses on worries that companies were facing tighter credit conditions, while uncertainty in global equity markets drove up the yen. Worries that problems in the housing market could spill over into other parts of the U.S. economy -- Asia's main export market -- and that tighter credit would cause takeover activity to slow, saw the S&P 500 index suffer its worst week in nearly five years.

The yen hit a three-month high against the euro in early trade on Monday as the sell-off in global equity and credit markets prompted investors to cut back on risky positions such as carry trades.

Japan's Nikkei average dropped 2.36 percent to its lowest in nearly three months on Friday on a plunge in the U.S. market and a stronger yen, while this Sunday's parliamentary election kept the market in check.

High yielding currencies fell sharply in volatile markets on Friday as a sell-off in credit and stock markets led investors to pare risky carry trades.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. said net profit was roughly flat in the first quarter and stuck by its forecast for an earnings rebound for the full year, helped by an improvement in its bond portfolio and strong sales of investment trusts.

The yen hit a three-month high against the dollar and a six-week high versus the euro on Friday as a sell-off in credit and stock markets forced investors to cut back on risky carry trades.

Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.8 percent on Wednesday as exporters such as Toyota Motor Corp. lost ground on a tumble in U.S. stocks and a stronger yen, and lower oil prices hit energy stocks.

The dollar fell to another record low against the euro on Monday, hit by fresh fears of a global spill-over from the U.S. mortgage market crisis that buoyed safe-haven bonds and forced Asian stocks into a retreat.

Japan's Nikkei average was nearly flat on Friday with Nippon Steel Corp. and other steel shares advancing following strong output data, but gains were limited as KDDI Corp tumbled on price war fears.

Toshiba Corp. said on Thursday it has recalled more Sony Corp. laptop computer batteries due to fire risk, rekindling concerns over the safety of Sony-made batteries.

Equities overcame concerns about credit market risks on Thursday, rising solidly while the dollar stuck close to record lows against the euro.

Japan's Nikkei average inched up 0.23 percent on Thursday as earnings hopes lifted Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and shipping firms such as Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd.

Japan's Nikkei average lost 0.36 percent on Thursday to log its lowest close in two weeks, weighed down by Tokyo Electron Ltd. and similar stocks after the company reported weak chip orders data a day earlier.

Asian stocks tumbled on Wednesday and the dollar plumbed a record low against the euro as investors fretted that growing problems in the U.S. subprime mortgage sector will spread to the wider economy.

Japan's Nikkei average slipped 1.11 percent on Wednesday to its lowest finish in nearly two weeks, hurt by a tumble in U.S. stocks and a stronger yen.

Money is pouring into foreign stocks, putting more downward pressure on an already weak yen.

A stronger-than-expected reading on Japanese machinery orders pushed up machinery stocks such as industrial robot maker Fanuc Ltd. on Monday, sending the Nikkei average 0.55 percent higher.

The yen's three-day rally fizzled out on Thursday as a rebound in stocks eased concerns about the U.S. high-risk mortgage market and prompted investors to borrow the Japanese currency again to fund carry trades.