Asics, Mitsubishi UFJ, Sapporo, Softbank: Japan Equity Preview

By Norie Kuboyama

Aug. 6 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies may have unusual price changes in Japanese trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are from the previous close. The information in each item was released after markets shut, unless stated otherwise.

Ain Pharmaciez Inc. (9627 JQ): The pharmacy operator will sell new shares to Japan's biggest retailer Seven & I Holdings Co. (3382 JT), allowing it to become Ain's fourth-largest shareholder with 7.8 percent. The companies will ally on their store openings, medicine marketing and product development, Ain said in a release. Ain soared 261 yen, or 15 percent, to 1,991. Seven & I gained 110 yen, or 3.2 percent, to 3,510.

Asics Corp. (7936 JT): The sporting goods maker said first- quarter net income rose 23 percent to 7.57 billion yen, aided by higher sales of running shoes. The company lowered its profit forecast for the first half by 3.4 percent and for the full year by 1.9 percent to 15.2 billion yen, citing lower-than-expected sales in Europe and foreign-exchange impacts. Asics advanced 34 yen, or 3.5 percent, to 1,002.

Fuji Machine Manufacturing Co. (6134 JN): The maker of automated assembly machines cut its full-year net income forecast 26 percent to 7.3 billion yen and its sales forecast 12 percent to 91 billion yen. The stock slumped 73 yen, or 3.8 percent, to 1,870.

Funai Electric Co. (6839 JO): The audio-visual equipment maker said it settled a dispute on its digital television-related patents with U.S.-based companies Polaroid Corp. (PRDCQ US) and Petters Group Worldwide LLC and signed a cross-licensing contract on the patents. Funai was unchanged at 3,120 yen.

Futaba Corp. (6986 JT): The electronic-parts maker slashed its full-year net income outlook 85 percent to 300 million yen, citing increased raw materials and transport costs, as well as a delay in passing on products prices. First-quarter profit advanced 27 percent to 1.02 billion yen. Futaba added 1 yen, or 0.1 percent, to 1,806.

Hiroshima Gas Co. (9535 JT): The natural gas supplier reversed its full-year forecast to net loss of 150 million yen from an 800 million yen profit due to increased raw materials costs from surging crude oil prices. The stock slipped 9 yen, or 2.8 percent, to 316.

Japan Airlines Corp. (9205 JT) and All Nippon Airlines Co. (9202 JT): The carriers, reeling from high jet-fuel costs, plan to reduce flights or end service on some international and domestic routes, Nikkei English News reported, without citing anyone. Japan Airlines added 4 yen, or 1.8 percent, to 222 yen, and All Nippon increased 5 yen, or 1.3 percent, to 399 yen.

Konami Corp. (9766 JT): The creator of the ``Metal Gear Solid'' video game series said first-quarter net income jumped 47 percent to 5.66 billion yen, with a 17 percent gain in revenue. Konami rose 30 yen, or 0.9 percent, to 3,440.

Kureha Corp. (4023 JT): The resin products maker said first- quarter net income more than doubled to 790 million yen from a year earlier, with a 14 percent rise in sales. Kureha was unchanged at 540 yen.

Marui Group Co. (8252 JT): The department store operator and consumer loan services provider said first-quarter net income halved to 923 million yen from a year earlier, as sales slid 11 percent. The declines reflected last year's store closures, a delay in a summer sales campaign and inclement weather, it said. Marui fell 6 yen, or 0.7 percent, to 809.

Mikuni Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (2572 JT): The soft drink maker will spend as much as 2.4 billion yen to buy back up to 3.98 percent of its outstanding shares. First-half net income fell 22 percent to 706 million yen, with a 1.8 percent slip in sales, Mikuni separately said in a statement. The stock added 2 yen, or 0.2 percent, to 1,005.

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co. (4182 JT): The chemical products maker lowered its full-year net income forecast 11 percent to 31 billion yen, citing a slump in sales of its polycarbonate sheet films and materials used for print circuit boards, as well as higher raw materials costs. First-quarter profit dropped 33 percent to 9.19 billion yen. The stock declined 24 yen, or 3.6 percent, to 650.

Mitsubishi Rayon Co. (3404 JT): The chemical products maker cut its full-year earnings forecast to breakeven from 9.5 billion yen in profit and reduced its planned annual dividend to 6 yen from 11 yen. The company cited a higher-than-expected surge in raw materials prices and slumping demand. The stock dropped 1 yen, or 0.3 percent, to 310.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. (8306 JT): Japan's biggest bank by market value posted a 66 percent drop in first- quarter net income to 51.2 billion yen, missing analysts' estimates, as bad-loan costs soared. The stock rose 14 yen, or 1.6 percent, to 915.

Mixi Inc. (2121 JT): The social-networking Web site operator boosted its first-half net income forecast 20 percent to 900 million yen, citing lower data center costs. Mixi increased 18,000 yen, or 2.8 percent, to 666,000.

Oriental Land Co. (4661 JT): The operator of Tokyo Disneyland said first-quarter net income declined 37 percent to 2.06 billion yen, citing increased depreciation costs and expenses to open new facilities. The stock rose 20 yen, or 0.3 percent, to 6,950.

Paramount Bed Co. (7960 JT): The bed maker lowered its full- year net income outlook by a quarter to 600 million yen due to a later-than-expected recovery in earnings at a French subsidiary. Paramount advanced 6 yen, or 0.4 percent, to 1,582.

Sapporo Holdings Ltd. (2501 JT): The brewery said first-half net income totaled 9.59 billion yen, rebounding from a 5.54 billion yen loss a year earlier, aided by a gain from the sale of a 15 percent stake in Yebisu Garden Place, an office and shopping complex in Tokyo. Sapporo cut its full-year sales outlook 5.1 percent to 426.3 billion yen. The stock fell 15 yen, or 1.9 percent, to 775.

Softbank Corp. (9984 JT): Japan's fastest-growing mobile- phone operator said first-quarter net income fell 23 percent to 19.4 billion yen after one-time gains boosted earnings last year. Softbank said it will pay a full-year dividend of 2.5 yen. Softbank slid 47 yen, or 2.4 percent, to 1,936.

Sony Corp. (6758 JT): The firm will buy Bertelsmann AG's 50 percent stake in Sony BMG Music Entertainment for $900 million to gain full control of the world's second-largest record company and artists including Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. Sony added 60 yen, or 1.5 percent, to 4,060.

Sumitomo Real Estate Sales Co. (8870 JT): The property brokerage said first-quarter net income plunged 82 percent to 534 million yen, with a 28 percent drop in revenue due to slumps in housings and land transactions. The stock was unchanged at 3,250 yen.

Tamron Co. (7740 JT): The lens maker said it will buy back as much as 2.8 percent of its outstanding shares through Sept. 30. The company said first-half operating profit, or sales minus the cost of goods sold and administrative expenses, fell 24 percent to 3.42 billion yen, with a 9.2 percent slid in sales. Tamron rebounded 35 yen, or 2.3 percent, to 1,541.

Tomy Co. (7867 JT): The toymaker almost tripled its first- half net income outlook to 1.6 billion yen, citing increased royalty income and lower administration costs. The company said first-quarter operating profit declined 41 percent to 40 million yen, with a 2.8 percent fall in sales. Tomy fell 7 yen, or 1 percent, to 674.

Tsumura & Co. (4540 JT): The drugmaker cut its first-half operating profit outlook 5.1 percent to 7.4 billion yen, while it lifted its net income forecast by 6.4 percent to 5 billion yen, reflecting the sale of shares in a subsidiary. The company boosted its full-year dividend to 34 yen from 26 yen. Tsumura climbed 85 yen, or 3 percent, to 2,915.

To contact the reporter on this story: Norie Kuboyama in Tokyo at nkuboyama@bloomberg.net.