MW: Japanese stocks rise, with techs, retailers higher
By Michael Kitchen
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese stocks pushed higher in early Monday trade, but with volumes light as several large regional bourses -- including those in Sydney and Hong Kong -- closed for the holidays. In early moves, the Nikkei Stock Average (JP:NI225 10,356, +76.80, +0.75%) advanced 0.4% to 10,318.8, while the broader Topix was up 0.2% at 903.30. Tech shares climbed, with Hitachi Ltd. (JP:6501 411.00, +3.00, +0.74%) (HIT 49.31, -0.26, -0.52%) up 1% after a Nikkei news report it was planning a flat-panel-TV alliance with Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. (HK:2038 5.41, -0.05, -0.92%) (FXCNF 0.72, +0.04, +5.88%) . Shares of chip maker Elpida Memory Inc. (JP:6665 942.00, +15.00, +1.62%) (ELPDF 10.82, -0.58, -5.09%) jumped 4.8% on various reports it was considering equity-capital tie-ups, possibly with Taiwanese firms. Retailers also improved early Monday, with FamilyMart Co. (JP:8028 3,080, +35.00, +1.15%) (FYRTF 0.00, 0.00, 0.00%) rising 0.8%, and Aeon Co. (JP:8267 1,027, +7.00, +0.69%) (AONNF 0.00, 0.00, 0.00%) higher by 0.9%.
