Sanyo turns operating profit in 06/07

(Reuters) - Sanyo's earnings have been hit hard in recent years by the cost of restructuring steps such as job cuts and plant closures, as well as by earthquake damage to its microchip factory, forcing it to issue $2.5 billion worth of preferred shares to Goldman Sachs and two other financial institutions last year.




The Osaka-based company on Monday forecast an operating profit of 45 billion yen for the year to March 2008, down 9.2 percent on the year and falling short of a consensus of 51 billion yen in a poll of 10 analysts by Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Platinum Price Declines as Exchange-Traded Fund May Not Be Offered in U.S.

(Bloomberg) -- Platinum fell for a third day in
Asian trading following a report that ETF Securities Ltd. will
not offer an exchange-traded fund for the metal in the U.S.

ETF Securities has no plan to list a U.S.-based platinum
fund, HSBC Holdings Plc said in a report, citing Graham Tuckwell,
ETF Securities chairman. Calls to the office numbers of Tuckwell
and ETF Securities weren't answered.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

China shares hit new all-time high

(Reuters) - Gainers overwhelmed losers by 767 to 102. Turnover in Shanghai A shares was very heavy at 137.5 billion yuan , up from Friday morning's 107.0 billion yuan.




Traders said there was no fresh, major positive news behind the rally, but individual investors were encouraged by the market's strength last week in the face of an interest rate hike and former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan's warning that stocks were dangerously overvalued.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Rubber Prices Decline in Tokyo as Crude Oil Falls from Three-Week High

(Bloomberg) -- Rubber futures in Tokyo, the global
benchmark, fell for the first day in nine as prices dropped for
crude oil, which is used to make a synthetic alternative to
natural rubber.

Crude oil for July delivery fell as much as 50 cents, or
0.8 percent, to $64.73 a barrel, in after-hours electronic
trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The commodity
traded at $64.84 a barrel at 11:43 a.m. in Singapore, compared
with the three-week high of $67.10 on May 21.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Japan's Bonds Decline as Gains in Stocks Reduce Demand for Debt Securities

(Bloomberg) -- Japan's 10-year bond yields held near
the highest since February after the Nikkei 225 Stock Average
rebounded from the biggest decline in a month.

Two-year yields were at the highest since 1997 before
reports this week that are forecast to show Japanese industrial
production rose and U.S. hiring increased. Signs of faster growth
in the world's two biggest economies may encourage the Bank of
Japan to raise interest rates again this year.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Japan Shares Rebound, Led by Honda, on Weak Yen, Higher Commodity Prices

(Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks rebounded from their
biggest loss in a month, led by exporters after the yen weakened
against the dollar and euro, boosting the value of their
overseas sales. Trading companies gained after commodities
prices rose at the end of last week.

Nintendo Co., Japan's second-largest video-game maker, rose
for the first time in three days. Mitsubishi Corp., the nation's
largest trading company, jumped 2.2 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korean Bonds Gain on Speculation 13-Month-High Yield to Spur Demand

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's won fell after North
Korea test-fired missiles late on May 25 as part of routine annual
exercises, fueling concern tensions in the region may increase.

The short-range missiles were launched after the close of won
trading last week. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his
country's patience ``isn't limitless'' and retains the option of
further sanctions against the communist nation. The won slid 1.5
percent on Oct. 9 after the North tested its first nuclear bomb.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News