The benchmark Nikkei average finished a volatile session a tad lower on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Friday as investors scratched their heads over how to digest a media report about a possible federal rescue of troubled U.S. mortgage giants. The

Chugoku Electric Power Co. and Nippon Oil Corp. said Friday they will establish a pipeline company in Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, for supplies of natural gas. The joint venture will build a pipeline to supply natural gas to the city

Honda's all-new, completely redesigned 2009 Acura TL employs dramatic new styling along with a luxurious interior that includes more driver relevant technology than ever. Featuring the most powerful Acura engine ever, the 2009 TL will be available in two distinctive

Shinsei Bank said Friday it will buy GE Consumer Finance Co., a Japanese unit of U.S. conglomerate General Electric Co., for 580 billion yen to bolster its retail financial business. The acquisition will make Shinsei Bank the fifth largest player

Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) said Friday it has introduced a ban on stock trading for many of its journalists and other employees as part of measures to prevent insider trading. The ban covers some 5,700 staffers with access to NHK's

Credit Suisse Group AG said Friday that it will launch private banking operations in Japan by the end of this year. The service targets wealthy individuals with assets of more than one billion yen. "Establishing operations in Japan is an

Tokyo stocks are expected to remain volatile next week as investors wait cautiously for April-June earnings reports from major U.S. financial institutions. "Because major economic events are scarce in Japan next week, investors will be focusing on overseas factors such

Supermarket operator Daiei Inc. said Friday that its group operating profit in March-May fell 69.2 pct from a year before to 2,672 million yen. Group sales dropped 12.8 pct to 257,066 million yen in the first quarter of its current

Net asset value of publicly offered stock investment trust funds in Japan fell in June for the first time in three months due to the global stock market slump, industry data showed Friday. The value at the end of June