TOKYO, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The benchmark Nikkei average rose 0.9 percent and the broader TOPIX was 0.2 percent higher on Tuesday.
The following stocks were on the move:
**AEON CREDIT UP AFTER CREDIT SUISSE UPGRADE**
Aeon Credit rose 3.4 percent to 936 yen after Credit Suisse lifted its rating on the consumer finance firm to 'outperform' from 'neutral', saying investors have overly priced in risk factors such as a stronger yen and an increase in demand from customers to repay interest that was overcharged.
The company is a unit of retailer Aeon Co Ltd.
0151 GMT
**WEATHERNEWS SLUMPS AFTER POSTING Q1 PROFIT FALL**
Shares of Weathernews Inc fell 12.7 percent to 1,388 yen after the provider of meteorological information reported a 40 percent year-on-year fall in net profit for the June-August quarter on a 9 percent drop in revenues.
Weathernews reported its earnings after the close of trade on Monday.
The company said the drop in profitability reflected higher costs including investments to develop new services.
0149 GMT
**KOBE STEEL UP ON REPORT OF PLAN TO RAISE COPPER STRIP OUTPUT**
Kobe Steel Ltd climbed 6 percent to 160 yen after the Nikkei business daily said Kobe Steel will boost production of copper strip products to 5,000 tonnes a month, restoring output to a peak hit in the spring of 2008.
Kobe Steel makes copper strip products used in car parts and semiconductor devices, the Nikkei said.
0125 GMT
**DOWA HOLDINGS UP AFTER MITSUBISHI UFJ SEC STARTS COVERAGE**
Nonferrous metal manufacturer Dowa Holdings Co Ltd climbed 5.1 percent to 554 yen after Mitsubishi UFJ Securities initiated coverage of the company's shares with a six to 12-month target price of 690 yen.
'We think the company's business strategy -- which aims to transform Dowa from a conventional nonferrous metals company into a recycling-oriented company -- gives it substantial potential for longer-term growth,' Mitsubishi UFJ Securities analyst Akihiro Omura said in a research note issued the previous day.
0047 GMT
(For IPO news, data and diary, click, for stocks click)
(Reporting by Masayuki Kitano) ((masayuki.kitano@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: masayuki.kitano.reuters.com@reuters.net; +81-3-6441-1872)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))
Keywords: MARKETS JAPAN STOCKS HOT (Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 * Reuters Plus: from your WebDSS screen For more information on Top News, visit http://topnews.reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The following stocks were on the move:
**AEON CREDIT UP AFTER CREDIT SUISSE UPGRADE**
Aeon Credit rose 3.4 percent to 936 yen after Credit Suisse lifted its rating on the consumer finance firm to 'outperform' from 'neutral', saying investors have overly priced in risk factors such as a stronger yen and an increase in demand from customers to repay interest that was overcharged.
The company is a unit of retailer Aeon Co Ltd.
0151 GMT
**WEATHERNEWS SLUMPS AFTER POSTING Q1 PROFIT FALL**
Shares of Weathernews Inc fell 12.7 percent to 1,388 yen after the provider of meteorological information reported a 40 percent year-on-year fall in net profit for the June-August quarter on a 9 percent drop in revenues.
Weathernews reported its earnings after the close of trade on Monday.
The company said the drop in profitability reflected higher costs including investments to develop new services.
0149 GMT
**KOBE STEEL UP ON REPORT OF PLAN TO RAISE COPPER STRIP OUTPUT**
Kobe Steel Ltd climbed 6 percent to 160 yen after the Nikkei business daily said Kobe Steel will boost production of copper strip products to 5,000 tonnes a month, restoring output to a peak hit in the spring of 2008.
Kobe Steel makes copper strip products used in car parts and semiconductor devices, the Nikkei said.
0125 GMT
**DOWA HOLDINGS UP AFTER MITSUBISHI UFJ SEC STARTS COVERAGE**
Nonferrous metal manufacturer Dowa Holdings Co Ltd climbed 5.1 percent to 554 yen after Mitsubishi UFJ Securities initiated coverage of the company's shares with a six to 12-month target price of 690 yen.
'We think the company's business strategy -- which aims to transform Dowa from a conventional nonferrous metals company into a recycling-oriented company -- gives it substantial potential for longer-term growth,' Mitsubishi UFJ Securities analyst Akihiro Omura said in a research note issued the previous day.
0047 GMT
(For IPO news, data and diary, click, for stocks click)
(Reporting by Masayuki Kitano) ((masayuki.kitano@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: masayuki.kitano.reuters.com@reuters.net; +81-3-6441-1872)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))
Keywords: MARKETS JAPAN STOCKS HOT (Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 * Reuters Plus: from your WebDSS screen For more information on Top News, visit http://topnews.reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
