TOKYO, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The benchmark Nikkei average rose 1.5 percent and the broader Topix gained 1 percent on Thursday.
The following stocks were on the move:
**SONY CORP UP ON REPORT OF OP PROFIT IN OCT-DEC**
Sony jumped 5.1 percent to 3,090 yen after the Nikkei business daily said the company will likely post an operating profit of about 100 billion yen for the October-December quarter, helped by a recovery in its video game and LCD TV operations.
0135 GMT
**TOYOTA SLIDES ON U.S. RECALL WOES**
Toyota Motor Corp dropped 2.3 percent to 3,620 yen, extending falls in its second day of losses after it suspended sales of some of its best-selling vehicles in the United States on Wednesday to address a product safety crisis that threatens its image in its largest market.
After Toyota shares fell more than 8 percent on Wednesday in U.S. trading, the company said it was expanding its recall connected to acceleration problems..
0118 GMT
**HONDA JUMPS AFTER REPORT FORECASTING GOOD EARNINGS**
Honda Motor Co rose 5.6 percent to 3,210 yen after the Nikkei business daily said its operating profit for the October-December quarter was likely between 120-170 billion yen ($1.3-$1.9 billion), roughly twice that of the previous quarter.
Thanks to strong sales of fuel-efficient models in Asian markets such as India and Thailand, the automaker's annual operating profit may far exceed 300 billion yen, compared with the firm's own forecast of 190 billion yen, the Nikkei said.
A mean forecast in a poll of three analysts calls for 84.7 billion yen in operating profit for October-December, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, while the mean estimate by 20 analysts for full-year operating profit is 237.4 billion yen.
0109 GMT
**HITACHI CONSTRUCTION TUMBLES AFTER EARNINGS**
Hitachi Construction fell 10.3 percent to 1,976 yen after the company forecast operating profit for the business year ending in March of 24 billion yen, a fall of 50.9 percent from the previous year though roughly in line with forecasts from 16 analysts quoted by Thomsom Reuters Estimates.
The company also reported a fall in nine-month operating profit of 96.8 percent, citing growing competition in China that meant profits were unlikely to increase as much as expected, although sales were still likely to remain good.
0102 GMT
**KOITO MANUFACTURING JUMPS ON OUTLOOK LIFT**
Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd soared 12.4 percent to 1,655 yen after the maker of car lighting equipment raised its full-year operating profit forecast by 59 percent, above market consensus, on smaller-than-expected production falls by automakers thanks to the popularity of low-emission cars and sales incentive programmes.
The company said it now expects to post 27.8 billion yen in operating profit for the year ending in March, up from the previously estimated 17.5 billion yen, and above a mean forecast of 21 billion yen in a poll of 11 analysts by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
0050 GMT
**CANON CLIMBS AFTER FORECASTS 1ST ANNUAL GROWTH IN 3 YEARS**
Canon Inc climbed 2.4 percent to 3,700 yen after forecasting its first annual profit growth in three years after more than doubling its profit last quarter, as the camera and office equipment maker shifts gear back into expansion.
0035 GMT
**RAKUTEN UP AFTER ANNOUNCING JV WITH CHINA'S BAIDU**
Rakuten jumped 6.5 percent to 73,300 yen after the online mall operator said it has agreed to set up a joint venture with China's top search engine Baidu to launch a virtual shopping mall targeting the world's largest online population.
Rakuten said it would take a 51 percent stake in the venture, with Baidu to hold the rest. Total investment in the venture would be about 4.3 billion yen ($48.2 million) over three years, it said in a statement.
0033 GMT
**TOKYO ELECTRON UP AFTER SMALLER LOSS FORECAST**
Tokyo Electron jumped 3.9 percent to 5,670 yen after the world's No.2 chip equipment maker, said on Wednesday it is likely to report far smaller full-year losses than previously expected, thanks to a recovery in the semiconductor market.
The company said it now expects to post an operating loss of 14 billion yen ($156.9 million) for the year to March 31, against its previous forecast for a loss of 35 billion yen.
0017 GMT
(For IPO news, data and diary, click, for stocks click)
(Reporting by Taiga Uranaka)
((taiga.uranaka@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-6441-1813; Reuters Messaging: taiga.uranaka.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: MARKETS JAPAN STOCKS HOT (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. 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:
**SONY CORP UP ON REPORT OF OP PROFIT IN OCT-DEC**
Sony jumped 5.1 percent to 3,090 yen after the Nikkei business daily said the company will likely post an operating profit of about 100 billion yen for the October-December quarter, helped by a recovery in its video game and LCD TV operations.
0135 GMT
**TOYOTA SLIDES ON U.S. RECALL WOES**
Toyota Motor Corp dropped 2.3 percent to 3,620 yen, extending falls in its second day of losses after it suspended sales of some of its best-selling vehicles in the United States on Wednesday to address a product safety crisis that threatens its image in its largest market.
After Toyota shares fell more than 8 percent on Wednesday in U.S. trading, the company said it was expanding its recall connected to acceleration problems..
0118 GMT
**HONDA JUMPS AFTER REPORT FORECASTING GOOD EARNINGS**
Honda Motor Co rose 5.6 percent to 3,210 yen after the Nikkei business daily said its operating profit for the October-December quarter was likely between 120-170 billion yen ($1.3-$1.9 billion), roughly twice that of the previous quarter.
Thanks to strong sales of fuel-efficient models in Asian markets such as India and Thailand, the automaker's annual operating profit may far exceed 300 billion yen, compared with the firm's own forecast of 190 billion yen, the Nikkei said.
A mean forecast in a poll of three analysts calls for 84.7 billion yen in operating profit for October-December, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, while the mean estimate by 20 analysts for full-year operating profit is 237.4 billion yen.
0109 GMT
**HITACHI CONSTRUCTION TUMBLES AFTER EARNINGS**
Hitachi Construction fell 10.3 percent to 1,976 yen after the company forecast operating profit for the business year ending in March of 24 billion yen, a fall of 50.9 percent from the previous year though roughly in line with forecasts from 16 analysts quoted by Thomsom Reuters Estimates.
The company also reported a fall in nine-month operating profit of 96.8 percent, citing growing competition in China that meant profits were unlikely to increase as much as expected, although sales were still likely to remain good.
0102 GMT
**KOITO MANUFACTURING JUMPS ON OUTLOOK LIFT**
Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd soared 12.4 percent to 1,655 yen after the maker of car lighting equipment raised its full-year operating profit forecast by 59 percent, above market consensus, on smaller-than-expected production falls by automakers thanks to the popularity of low-emission cars and sales incentive programmes.
The company said it now expects to post 27.8 billion yen in operating profit for the year ending in March, up from the previously estimated 17.5 billion yen, and above a mean forecast of 21 billion yen in a poll of 11 analysts by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
0050 GMT
**CANON CLIMBS AFTER FORECASTS 1ST ANNUAL GROWTH IN 3 YEARS**
Canon Inc climbed 2.4 percent to 3,700 yen after forecasting its first annual profit growth in three years after more than doubling its profit last quarter, as the camera and office equipment maker shifts gear back into expansion.
0035 GMT
**RAKUTEN UP AFTER ANNOUNCING JV WITH CHINA'S BAIDU**
Rakuten jumped 6.5 percent to 73,300 yen after the online mall operator said it has agreed to set up a joint venture with China's top search engine Baidu to launch a virtual shopping mall targeting the world's largest online population.
Rakuten said it would take a 51 percent stake in the venture, with Baidu to hold the rest. Total investment in the venture would be about 4.3 billion yen ($48.2 million) over three years, it said in a statement.
0033 GMT
**TOKYO ELECTRON UP AFTER SMALLER LOSS FORECAST**
Tokyo Electron jumped 3.9 percent to 5,670 yen after the world's No.2 chip equipment maker, said on Wednesday it is likely to report far smaller full-year losses than previously expected, thanks to a recovery in the semiconductor market.
The company said it now expects to post an operating loss of 14 billion yen ($156.9 million) for the year to March 31, against its previous forecast for a loss of 35 billion yen.
0017 GMT
(For IPO news, data and diary, click, for stocks click)
(Reporting by Taiga Uranaka)
((taiga.uranaka@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-6441-1813; Reuters Messaging: taiga.uranaka.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: MARKETS JAPAN STOCKS HOT (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. 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.
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