Japan's Nikkei Drops, Paced by Nomura on Subprime Concern; Olympus Gains

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average
slipped after Germany's IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG said losses
on subprime loan investments will ``significantly'' lower profits.

Brokerages such as Nomura Holdings Inc., with similar
investments, led declines on concern they will also be affected.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Japanese Bonds Gain; MOF Decides Not to Reopen Existing Debt at Auction

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's 10-year bonds rose after the
Ministry of Finance issued new securities at an auction of
benchmark debt today, ending speculation it would sell more of
the existing debt.

The ministry set a 1.9 percent coupon on the 1.9 trillion
yen ($15.5 billion) of new 10-year bonds after yields climbed to
their highest in almost a year last month. Brokers had asked the
government to reissue the benchmark No. 286 bond to help ease a
shortage of the debt in the repurchase market, Kazuo Katayama,
director of the ministry's finance division, said last week.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Buffett talk fuels interest in Kraft Foods calls

(Reuters) - "There are rumors circulating this week that ... Berkshire
Hathaway may be building a stake in food-maker Kraft Foods,"
said Andrew Wilkinson, senior market analyst at Interactive
Brokers Group. "We're unsure of the foundation of this rumor."




Shares of Kraft, known for brands including Maxwell House,
Nabisco and Oscar Mayer, trade at about 18.7 times next year's
estimated earnings. They edged up 15 cents, or 0.45 percent, to
close at $33.84 on the New York Stock Exchange.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News