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Perhaps the most surprising recent news in the auto industry last week was this little gem. In large part owing to President Obama's negotiation of a free trade agreement with South Korea earlier this year, Toyota will be expanding exports of U.S.-built vehicles to Korea for sale.
Japan's Nikkei 225 Index advanced 2.7% on Friday, ending a turbulent week at 9,207. In Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index inched up 0.1% to 22,300 and in China the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.3% to close at 2,907.
The Group of Seven countries on Thursday agreed to intervene to reduce the value of the Japanese yen, which has surged to record levels after last week's earthquake and tsunami. A strong yen could cripple the country's exports and further damage its economy.
A resilient performance by Japanese shares helped stocks in Europe and the U.S. Thursday, while the yen pulled back from a record high against the dollar amid expectations that finance chiefs from the world's industrialized nations will discuss how to ease the currency's rise.
Despite all the headwinds blowing against it -- and they're fierce -- the U.S. dollar has been holding its own against the world's major currencies. And if the U.S. recovery remains on track, the greenback has good odds of actually strengthening in 2011.
The Japanese automaker's bottom line is likely to have been hit by its many safety recalls, weaker U.S. sales and Japan's rising currency. Analysts forecast Toyota will report a quarterly profit of about $1 billion on sales of $56.2 billion.
Sony's quarterly profit dropped 8.6% as a strong yen and falling TV prices erased the boost the Japanese electronics and entertainment company got from its hit movie "The Social Network."
World markets got a boost this week from Japan's pledge to help overly indebted EU nations. What's behind Japan's move? Sure, the spirit of global cooperation is part of it. But much more significant is Tokyo's need to keep pace with Beijing in the influence game.
Asian shares slid Tuesday as investors worry about government efforts to stabilize prices in the People's Republic. China's Shanghai Composite Index tumbled 1.7%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.9% and in Japan the Nikkei 225 Index slipped 0.6%.
In Asia Monday Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 1.3% and Japan's Nikkei 225 Index advanced 0.9%, buoyed by retail gains in the U.S. over the Thanksgiving weekend. But in China the Shanghai Composite Index slid 0.2% as investors continue to worry about the effects of tightening measures.

Market Movers

SymbolLastChange / %Volume

Most Actives

BAC
Bank of America Corp
8.05-0.13
-1.59%
55.20M
ALU
Alcatel-Lucent (ADR)
2.23+0.29
+14.69%
39.51M
PBR-A
Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. A Shares
27.54-2.20
-7.40%
9.02M
PBR
Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (ADR)
29.56-2.43
-7.60%
8.76M

% Gainers

CIE
Cobalt International Energy
35.62 +11.72
+49.04%
4.56M
ALU
Alcatel-Lucent (ADR)
2.23 +0.29
+14.69%
39.51M
WNS
WNS (Holdings) Limited (ADR)
10.50 +1.10
+11.70%
1.78M
LNKD
LinkedIn Corp.
84.74 +8.35
+10.93%
3.49M

% Losers

OSG
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.
10.65-1.18
-9.97%
250,549
OC-B
Owens Corning (Warrant) 'B'
2.40-0.25
-9.43%
4,268
LF
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
6.20-0.63
-9.22%
1.13M
KV-A
K V Pharmaceutical Co. Class A
2.37-0.24
-9.20%
315,837
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