Nikkei climbs to 6-week high on earnings optimism

TOKYO May 2 Japan's Nikkei share average rose to six-week highs on Tuesday in a holiday-shortened week, getting a lift from robust earnings and gains on Wall Street. The Nikkei was up 0.6 percent in morning trade at 19,434.01. Wall Street climbed on Monday ... ( read original story ...)

Nikkei gains on strong data; Markets in Europe closed

S&P 500 futures were also up 0.1 percent to 2,383.60. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.6 percent to finish at 19,310.52. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.6 percent to 5,956.50. JAPAN MANUFACTURING: The Nikkei purchasing managers index survey of ... ( read original story ...)

DIARY-Top Economic Events to June 23

TUESDAY, MAY 2 ** BERLIN - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaueble speaks at the B20 summit – 1215 GMT. TOKYO - Bank of Japan will release the minutes of its March monetary policy meeting. YOKOHAMA, Japan – Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo jeweler offers gold Darth Vader masks for $1.4M

TOKYO -- "Star Wars" fans with deep pockets might consider it a golden opportunity. A Tokyo jewelry store is offering life-size Darth Vader masks made of 24-karat gold at a hefty price of 154 million yen (US$1.4 million) to mark the 40th anniversary of the ... ( read original story ...)

Japan navy dispatches destroyer Izumo to escort U.S. warships

TOKYO -- Japan's navy has dispatched its largest destroyer reportedly tasked with escorting U.S. military ships off the Japanese coast amid heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula. The helicopter carrier Izumo departed the Yokosuka port near Tokyo ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo jeweler offers gold Darth Vader mask for $1.4M

TOKYO -- Star Wars fans might consider it a golden opportunity. Tokyo jeweler Ginza Tanaka is offering a life-size Darth Vader mask made of 24-karat gold at a hefty price of 154 million yen (US$1.4 million) to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo jeweler offers gold Darth Vader masks for $1.4 million

TOKYO (AP) — Star Wars fans with deep pockets might consider it a golden opportunity. A Tokyo jewelry store is offering life-size Darth Vader masks made of 24-karat gold at a hefty price of 154 million yen ($1.4 million) to mark the 40th anniversary of ... ( read original story ...)

Tokyo jeweler offers gold Darth Vader mask for $1.4 million

Star Wars fans might consider it a golden opportunity. Tokyo jeweler Ginza Tanaka is offering a life-size Darth Vader mask made of 24-karat gold at a hefty price of 154 million yen ($1.4 million) to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the first ... ( read original story ...)

Japan destroyer leaves port reportedly to escort US warships

TOKYO – Japan's navy has dispatched its largest destroyer reportedly tasked with escorting U.S. military ships off the Japanese coast amid heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula. The helicopter carrier Izumo departed the Yokosuka port near Tokyo ... ( read original story ...)