TOKYO, March 5 (Reuters) - The benchmark Nikkei average rose 2 percent and the broader TOPIX was 1.5 percent higher on Friday.
The following stocks were on the move:
**SHIPPERS EXTEND GAINS, KEY INDEX AT OVER FIVE-WEEK HIGH**
Nippon Yusen and other shipping companies extended their week's gains after the Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates to ship dry commodities, rose to its highest in over five weeks on Thursday, helped by Chinese appetite for coal and grains.
Kawasaki Kisen K.K. got an additional boost after Mitsubishi UFJ Securities raised its rating on the company to '2' from '3,' citing improving container rates and the stock's firmness even after a Feb 12 announcement of a plan to issue new shares.
Nippon Yusen climbed 2.5 percent to 335 yen, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines rose 2.2 percent to 595 yen, and Kawasaki Kisen gained 3.1 percent to 337 yen.
0119 GMT
**EXPORTERS GAIN ON WEAKER YEN, ENCOURAGING U.S. DATA**
Exporters such as Kyocera Corp climbed after the yen weakened and Wall Street rose on encouraging U.S. economic data, including better-than-expected retail sales figures. Retail sales were thought to have been hurt by the severe weather across the United States last month.
The dollar was up 0.3 percent at 89.22 yen, with traders citing a report that the Bank of Japan was weighing further monetary easing measures.
Kyocera rose 2.4 percent to 8,130 yen and Sony Corp rose 2.9 percent to 3,190 yen. Honda Motor Co rose 1 percent to 3,110 yen.
0057 GMT
**MASPRO DENKOH JUMPS AFTER LIFTING FORECAST**
Maspro Denkoh jumped 9.5 percent to 876 yen after the maker of TV tuner equipment lifted its operating profit forecast by 46.7 percent for the year ending in March, buoyed by strong sales of TV items for digital broadcasting.
The company said it now expects a full-year operating profit of 1.1 billion yen, up from 750 million yen in the previous estimate.
0031 GMT
**CANON GAINS AFTER SAYING OCE BID UNCONDITIONAL**
Canon Inc rose 2.4 percent to 3,855 yen after it on Thursday declared its $1 billion offer for Oce NV unconditional, sending a clear message to shareholders holding out for a better deal it is set to tie up the acquisition.
Canon extended the offer to March 19 with the aim of buying all shares in the Dutch printer maker.
0016 GMT
**SHINSEI BANK, AOZORA BANK UP ON REPORT RESUMING MERGER TALKS**
Shinsei and Aozora, two mid-size Japanese lenders owned by U.S. funds, are resuming their merger talks, Jiji news agency reported on Thursday.
The Nikkei newspaper said last month that the banks would scrap or indefinitely postpone their plan to merge because they could not decide on a business strategy.
Concern the deal could be scrapped has weighed on the stock price of Shinsei, which has the weaker capital base of the two banks.
Shinsei climbed 4 percent to 104 yen and Aozora rose 0.8 percent to 121 yen. The banks subindex rose 0.7 percent.
0006 GMT
(Reporting by Elaine Lies)
((elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com; 81-3-6441-1807; Reuters messaging: elaine.lies.reuters@reuters.com))
((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 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:
**SHIPPERS EXTEND GAINS, KEY INDEX AT OVER FIVE-WEEK HIGH**
Nippon Yusen and other shipping companies extended their week's gains after the Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates to ship dry commodities, rose to its highest in over five weeks on Thursday, helped by Chinese appetite for coal and grains.
Kawasaki Kisen K.K. got an additional boost after Mitsubishi UFJ Securities raised its rating on the company to '2' from '3,' citing improving container rates and the stock's firmness even after a Feb 12 announcement of a plan to issue new shares.
Nippon Yusen climbed 2.5 percent to 335 yen, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines rose 2.2 percent to 595 yen, and Kawasaki Kisen gained 3.1 percent to 337 yen.
0119 GMT
**EXPORTERS GAIN ON WEAKER YEN, ENCOURAGING U.S. DATA**
Exporters such as Kyocera Corp climbed after the yen weakened and Wall Street rose on encouraging U.S. economic data, including better-than-expected retail sales figures. Retail sales were thought to have been hurt by the severe weather across the United States last month.
The dollar was up 0.3 percent at 89.22 yen, with traders citing a report that the Bank of Japan was weighing further monetary easing measures.
Kyocera rose 2.4 percent to 8,130 yen and Sony Corp rose 2.9 percent to 3,190 yen. Honda Motor Co rose 1 percent to 3,110 yen.
0057 GMT
**MASPRO DENKOH JUMPS AFTER LIFTING FORECAST**
Maspro Denkoh jumped 9.5 percent to 876 yen after the maker of TV tuner equipment lifted its operating profit forecast by 46.7 percent for the year ending in March, buoyed by strong sales of TV items for digital broadcasting.
The company said it now expects a full-year operating profit of 1.1 billion yen, up from 750 million yen in the previous estimate.
0031 GMT
**CANON GAINS AFTER SAYING OCE BID UNCONDITIONAL**
Canon Inc rose 2.4 percent to 3,855 yen after it on Thursday declared its $1 billion offer for Oce NV unconditional, sending a clear message to shareholders holding out for a better deal it is set to tie up the acquisition.
Canon extended the offer to March 19 with the aim of buying all shares in the Dutch printer maker.
0016 GMT
**SHINSEI BANK, AOZORA BANK UP ON REPORT RESUMING MERGER TALKS**
Shinsei and Aozora, two mid-size Japanese lenders owned by U.S. funds, are resuming their merger talks, Jiji news agency reported on Thursday.
The Nikkei newspaper said last month that the banks would scrap or indefinitely postpone their plan to merge because they could not decide on a business strategy.
Concern the deal could be scrapped has weighed on the stock price of Shinsei, which has the weaker capital base of the two banks.
Shinsei climbed 4 percent to 104 yen and Aozora rose 0.8 percent to 121 yen. The banks subindex rose 0.7 percent.
0006 GMT
(Reporting by Elaine Lies)
((elaine.lies@thomsonreuters.com; 81-3-6441-1807; Reuters messaging: elaine.lies.reuters@reuters.com))
((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 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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