Japan stocks rise, but Advantest falls on outlook

MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks rose as trading began Wednesday, with the Nikkei Stock Average climbing 1.7% to 15,234.83, a strong advance after four days of declines. Aiding the export-heavy market was a rise in the U.S. dollar against the yen above the ¥103 level as the yen s safe-haven appeal waned alongside worries about emerging markets. Among exporters, Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. shares tacked on 2.4% and 1.5%, respectively, and Hitachi Ltd. shot higher by 4.8%. But shares of Advantest Corp. dropped 9.3% after the electronics maker widened its full-year forecast. It now expects a net loss of 35.9 billion yen ($347.19 million), compared with a previous forecast for a loss of 2.5 billion yen. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.