TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Share prices are expected to open higher in the wake of a rebound of US technology shares on NASDAQ Friday, with a weak yen also seen bolstering interest in international blue chips here, dealers said.
Positive expectations for the performance of Japanese technology firms and exporters in the quarter to December will also buoy the broader market, they said.
Major firms such as Elpida Memory, Yahoo Japan and NEC Electroncis will report their quarterly results this week.
Today, Kao and Hoya will release their April-December earnings results.
On Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average closed down 2.40 points, or 0.02 pct, at 12,565.53, while the Nasdaq was up 8.10 points, or 0.33 pct, at 2,451.31.
In Chicago, the Nikkei futures contract settled at 17,430 points up from 17,320 at the Osaka Securities Exchange Friday, suggesting a firm start for the Tokyo market.
On the Tokyo bourse Friday, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed 60.49 points or 0.35 pct lower at 17,310.44, while the broader TOPIX index of all first-section issues closed 0.96 point or 0.06 pct lower at 1,714.21.
Indicators due in Japan include the Japan Chain Stores Association's supermarket store sales for December and the Japan Franchise Association's convenience store sales for the same month.
The Cabinet Office will release its monthly economic report for January.
Stocks to watch include Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd on a report that the world's second-largest photomask maker plans to invest 20 bln yen to build a photomask plant in Taiwan, and start mass production in September 2008.
Softbank may fall on a report that its mobile phone service unit Softbank Mobile Corp had to temporarily stop taking applications from new customers at some shops due to system failure.
In late October, a system failure also led the firm to temporarily stop taking applications to switch carriers under a number portability scheme.
Tosoh Corp may move on a report that the chemical producer is seeking to boost sales in its functional products division to about 450 bln yen in the year to March 2011, up 53 pct from the projected figure for the current fiscal year.
The Nikkei reported, without citing sources, that Tosoh also also aims to increase operating profit at the division, which oversees such products as organic chemicals, electronic materials and bioscience, to 50-60 bln yen from 34.1 bln.
Aiful Corp may move after the consumer lender announced that it will cut the number of nationwide outlets, including unmanned ones with automated loan machines, to 1,193 from the current 2,713 to cut costs amid a tightening of regulations on loan interest rates.
The firm said it will also slash the number of full-time workers by 400 through voluntary retirement while cutting the number of part-time workers by 900.
Nissan Motor Co Ltd may be active on a report that the automaker plans to shut down 30-40 dealerships in overlapping city areas and open 20 new outlets in suburbs in this year to achieve better sales efficiency.
(1 usd = 121.24 yen)
yasuhiko.seki@xfn.com