Toshiba aims to double profits over three years: president - AFP - Fri 7:02 am
Japan's Toshiba Corp. said Thursday that it aims to more than double operating profit over the next three years as it focuses on semiconductors and nuclear power plants after defeat in a DVD format war.

Toyota warns of first profit drop in nine years - AFP - Fri 4:49 am
Toyota Motor Corp. warned Thursday it expects the first drop in annual profits in nine years because of a weak US economy, a stronger yen and soaring raw material costs.

[external] Japan consumer lenders book narrower Q4 losses - Reuters - Fri 3:40 am
TOKYO, May 8 (Reuters) - Three of Japan's leading consumer finance firms posted narrower fourth-quarter losses on Thursday and forecast slim growth in the coming year, as they weathered the worst of stricter moneylending regulations.

[external] Fiat wants to expand in Japan - chairman - Reuters - Fri 3:16 am
VENICE, Italy, May 8 (Reuters) - Italian industrial group Fiat is looking at expanding in the Japanese market for earth-moving equipment, its chairman said on Thursday.

[external] Nintendo Wii makes Yamauchi Japan's richest-Forbes - Reuters - Fri 2:33 am
TOKYO, May 8 (Reuters) - Soaring sales of Nintendo's Wii game machine have made former Nintendo chairman Hiroshi Yamauchi Japan's richest man, worth $7.8 billion, Forbes magazine said in its annual rankings.

[external] Japan firms start to question poison pills - Reuters - Fri 2:19 am
TOKYO, May 8 (Reuters) - Cosmetics giant Shiseido and Internet access provider eAccess are among a handful of Japanese companies that have recently scrapped "poison pill" takeover defence schemes, bucking a trend that has helped shape Japan's reputation for being inhospitable to foreign capital.

[external] Japan Logistic Systems-2007/08 group - Reuters - Fri 1:03 am

[external] Japan's Hokuriku says to restart nuclear unit - Reuters - Fri 12:54 am
TOKYO, May 8 (Reuters) - Hokuriku Electric Power Co said it planned to start trial operations of its Shika No. 2 nuclear unit around 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Thursday.

Japan's Softbank says annual profits up almost four-fold - AFP - Fri 12:52 am
Japan's Softbank Corp. said Thursday its annual net profit almost quadrupled as it won customers away from rival mobile telephone operators and enjoyed a windfall from the listing of affiliate Alibaba.

Earlier Headlines

All times are Singapore Time (GMT+8)

· [external] Japan's Softbank posts 13 pct fall in Q4 profit - Reuters - Fri 12:49 am
· [external] BOJ should cut rates to help small firms-lawmaker - Reuters - Fri 12:19 am
· [external] Nikkei falls 1.1 pct, banks track Wall St lower - Reuters - Thu 11:41 pm
· [external] Japan Tecseed-2007/08 parent results - Reuters - Thu 11:30 pm
· [external] Japan Tecseed-2007/08 group results - Reuters - Thu 11:30 pm
· [external] Marubeni eyes partial sale of power plants - Reuters - Thu 11:18 pm
· [external] JGBs rise on bargain-hunting, 10-year yield slips - Reuters - Thu 11:14 pm
· [external] Japan Asia Investment-2007/08 parent - Reuters - Thu 11:02 pm
· [external] Japan Asia Investment-2007/08 group - Reuters - Thu 11:02 pm
· [external] Japan Cash Machine-2007/08 group - Reuters - Thu 11:01 pm

· [external] En-Japan-1qtr parent results - Reuters - Thu 10:50 pm
· [external] Nikkei falls 1.1 pct, banks down tracking Wall St - Reuters - Thu 10:11 pm
· [external] Japan Bridge-2007/08 group forecast - Reuters - Thu 10:09 pm
· [external] Japan Bridge-2007/08 parent forecast - Reuters - Thu 10:09 pm
· [external] Softbank may issue preferred shares-Nikkei - Reuters - Thu 9:58 pm
· Hyundai Motor Auto Sales in Japan Plunge in April - AsiaPulse - Thu 9:47 pm
· [external] Japan Hot Stocks-Showa Denko, Softbank, Asahi Kasei - Reuters - Thu 9:39 pm
· [external] Japan Eri-2007/08 group forecast - Reuters - Thu 9:33 pm
· [external] Japan Hot Stocks-Asahi Kasei, Mitsubishi Chem, Elpida, Eisai - Reuters - Thu 8:58 pm
· [external] Japan Hot Stocks-Mitsubishi Chem, Elpida, Eisai, Astellas - Reuters - Thu 8:30 pm

· [external] JGB futures slide after weak 10-yr auction - Reuters - Thu 7:53 pm
· [external] JGBs little changed, 10-year yield near 7-mth high - Reuters - Thu 7:10 pm
· [external] Nikkei slips 0.9 pct as banks fall, valuations weigh - Reuters - Thu 7:10 pm
· [external] Japan Hot Stocks-Elpida, Eisai, Astellas, Mori Seiki, Rohm - Reuters - Thu 6:18 pm
· Honda Invests in Vehicle R&D Centre in Thailand - AsiaPulse - Thu 6:01 pm
· [external] Japan Hot Stocks-Eisai, Astellas, Mori Seiki, Rohm - Reuters - Thu 5:30 pm
· [external] JGB futures edge up as stocks fall, Treasuries rise - Reuters - Thu 5:15 pm
· [external] Nikkei slips 0.9 pct as banks fall, Inpex gains - Reuters - Thu 5:03 pm
· [external] Japan Hot Stocks-Astellas, Mori Seiki, Rohm, Akebono Brake - Reuters - Thu 4:39 pm
· [external] CDNetworks buys Web content firm to expand in Japan - Reuters - Thu 4:37 pm