Tokyo’s markets were higher on Thursday, as the Nikkei 225 had its highest close in a month and a half with a gain of 2.41 percent to 16,832.22.

The Topix index added 2.48 percent to 1,615.15 while the Mothers market was 5.52 percent higher to 720.5.

Banks were higher on rumors that investor Warren Buffett is looking to buy a stake in Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC), boosting investor confidence that the subprime crisis will not cripple the financial services sector.

Among banks, Mizuho (TYO: 8411; NYSE: MFG) was up 4.78 percent to ¥658,000, while Resona Holdings (TYO: 8308) added 6.9 percent to ¥190,000.

Sumitomo Mitsui (TYO: 8316) gained 7 percent to ¥891,000. Regional bank Suruga Bank Ltd (TYO: 8358) was up 11 percent to ¥1,402 after it said it is talking to Japan Post about a deal.

Brokers were also higher, with Nomura Holdings (TYO: 8604; NYSE: NMR; SGX: N33) closing at ¥1,938 and Daiwa Securities (TYO: 8601) adding 8.6 percent to ¥1,114.

The consumer finance sector also saw gains after Takefuji (TYO: 8564) was reported to be preparing results showing that it will cross over into profit this year after losing ¥481.2 billion last year.

Takefuji was 16 percent higher to ¥2,155 after gaining the full amount allowed by the exchange in a session, while Aiful (TYO: 8515) and Promise (TYO: 8574) each gained 15 percent, to ¥1,909 and ¥2,850 respectively.

In the real estate sector, Deutsche Bank (FWB: DBK; NYSE: DB) raised its recommendations on both Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) and Sumitomo Realty & Development (TYO: 8830) from “hold” to “buy”.

Mitsui Fudosan was 7.7 percent higher to ¥3,210, while Sumitomo was up 7.9 percent to ¥4,090.

Elsewhere, Japan Tobacco (TYO: 2914) added 4.5 percent to ¥634,000 on a report out of London that it will bid on Turkey’s state-owned cigarette maker, Tekel.

Tokyo markets came back from Monday’s holiday there with gains.

The Nikkei 225 was up 0.55 percent to 16,401.73, while the Topix index added 0.95 percent to 1,566.83 and the Mothers market added 0.88 percent to 631.45.

With the United Auto Workers declaring a strike against General Motors (NYSE: GM) in the United States, Japanese carmakers saw gains.

Toyota Motor (TYO: 7203.T; NYSE: TM; LSE: TYT) was 1.2 percent higher to ¥6,640 and Honda Motor (TYO: 7267; NYSE: HMC) was up 1.6 percent to ¥3,810.

Shippers were also higher after the Baltic Dry Index, which tracks bulk shipping fees, hit a new record.

Mitsui OSK (TYO: 9104) added 4.6 percent to ¥1,842, while Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (TYO: 9107) gained 5 percent to ¥1,716.

It was Mitsui’s highest close since the beginning of August and a record high close for Kawasaki Kisen.

The real estate sector saw gains as well.

Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) was 4.1 percent higher to ¥2,955, while Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) was up 4.2 percent to ¥3,090.

Equities markets were mixed in Tokyo on Thursday, with the real estate sector higher but the consumer finance and semiconductors sectors in decline.

The Nikkei 225 was 0.2 percent higher to 16,413.79, but the Topix index retreated slightly and was down 0.05 percent to 1,566.84.

The Mothers market of small and mid-caps also declined, falling 0.81 percent to 628.23.

The consumer finance sector was down substantially after UFJ Nicos (TYO: 8583) said that instead of a profit it would lose ¥100 billion this fiscal year.

Nicos, which is part of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (TYO: 8306; NYSE: MTU), was 13.4 percent lower to ¥241.

Elsewhere in the sector Aiful (TYO: 8515) dropped 11 percent to ¥1,732, while Acom (TYO: 8572) was down 7.8 percent to ¥2,560 and Promise (TYO: 8574) fell 4.5 percent to ¥2,655.

The semiconductors sector also saw declines after analysts at Dramexchange said that the price of computer memory will decline next quarter due to oversupply.

Chip-making equipment maker Advantest (TYO: 6857; NYSE: ATE) was 4.7 percent lower to ¥3,690, while Tokyo Electron (TYO: 8035) dropped 4.9 percent to ¥7,340.

The real estate sector was higher on a government report that said commercial land prices were higher in the year ending in June.

Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) gained 1.6 percent to ¥2,860, while Sumitomo Realty & Development (TYO: 8830) added 1.7 percent to ¥3,610.

Tokyo’s markets were mixed Tuesday.

While the Nikkei 225 added 0.71 percent to 15,877.67 and the Topix index gained 0.47 percent to 1,532.39, the Mothers market of small and mid-caps fell 2.87 percent to 656.29.

After several days of declines, the real estate sector was higher, gaining 3.5 percent as a whole on new figures showing that office rental rates were up in central Tokyo in August.

Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) was 3.53 percent higher to ¥2,640, while Sumitomo Realty & Development (TYO: 8830) gained 4.1 percent to ¥3,290 and Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) added 4.3 percent to ¥2,810.

Banks were higher as well.

Mitsubishi UFJ (TYO: 8306; NYSE: MTU) was 1 percent higher to ¥1.04 million, while Mizuho Financial (TYO: 8411; NYSE: MFG) was up 1.1 percent to ¥664,000.

Computer game publisher Capcom (TYO: 9697) added 6.3 percent to ¥2,855 on a broker upgrade based on its sales of games for the Wii console.

The automobile manufacturing sector was slightly lower, falling 0.2 percent as a whole even though the yen had weakened slightly against the US dollar.

Toyota Motor (TYO: 7203.T; NYSE: TM; LSE: TYT) dropped 0.2 percent to ¥6,430, while Honda Motor (TYO: 7267; NYSE: HMC) was 0.8 percent lower to ¥3,700.

Equities markets in Tokyo were lower on Monday.

The Nikkei 225 was 2.22 percent lower to 15,764.97.

The Topix index dropped 2.04 percent to 1,525.22 and the Mothers market was down 4.13 percent to 675.71.

The real estate sector was again instrumental in the declines as it fell 4.2 percent as a whole.

Sumitomo Realty & Development (TYO: 8830) was 4.5 percent lower to ¥3,160 and Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) dropped 4.7 percent to ¥2,550.

The financial services sector also saw declines once again.

Broker Nomura Holdings (TYO: 8604; NYSE: NMR; SGX: N33) was down 3.3 percent to ¥1,827, its lowest in almost two years.

Banks were mixed, however.

While Mitsubishi UFJ (TYO: 8306; NYSE: MTU) was 2.8 percent lower to ¥1.03 million, Tokyo Star Bank Ltd. (TYO: 8384) gained 14 percent to ¥334,000 on reports that Advantage Partners might be interested to the tune of ¥410,000 per share.

Among export-focused sectors, the electronics sector was lower on broker downgrades.

Consumer electronics and entertainment giant Sony (TYO: 6758; NYSE: SNE) dropped 6 percent to ¥5,300 after CLSA dropped its recommendation from “buy” to “underperform”, while camera manufacturer Canon (TYO: 7751; NYSE: CAJ) fell 3.7 percent to ¥6,050 on a downgrade from “overweight” to “underweight” from HSBC Securities (LSE: HSBA; NYSE: HBC; Euronext: HSBC; SEHK: 005).

The real estate sector took a hit in Tokyo Wednesday, with the exchange’s properties sector index dropping 4.2 percent on the session on overvaluation concerns.

The declines helped send the Nikkei 225 down 1.6 percent to 16,158.45, while the Topix index dropped 1.71 percent to 1,569.47.

The Mothers market fell 2.23 percent to 717.07.

Among properties groups, Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) was 3.8 percent lower to ¥2,895 and Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) dropped 4.1 percent to ¥2,780.

In a related sector, Daiwa House Industry (TYO: 1925) was 3.2 percent lower to ¥1,471 after its chairman said that it wants to cut costs locally, where it fears land prices could collapse, and expand in China.

Banks were also lower.

Sumitomo Mitusi Financial Group (TYO: 8316) fell 1.5 percent to ¥872,000, its lowest share price in two years, while Mizuho Financial Group (TYO: 8411; NYSE: MFG) dropped 2.4 percent to ¥702,000.

There were gainers on the session.

Sony (TYO: 6758; NYSE: SNE) was 2.3 percent higher to ¥5,740 on the news that it is planning an IPO of its financial unit in Tokyo next month.

Meanwhile, new department store chain J-Front Retailing (TYO: 3086), created by the merger of Daimaru (TYO: 8234) and Matsuzakaya (TYO: 8235), added 6 percent to ¥975 when Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) initiated coverage with a “buy” recommendation and a target share price of ¥1,200.

Tokyo’s markets saw declines on Tuesday.

The Nikkei 225 fell 0.63 percent to 16,420.47 and the Topix index dropped 0.7 percent to 1,596.74, while the Mothers market was 0.1 percent lower to 733.41.

The utilities sector was lower after Kansai Electric Power (TYO: 9503) had halt power generation at a nuclear facility in western Japan due to a leak of radioactivity inside the plant.

Kansai dropped 2 percent to ¥2,690, while Tokyo Electric Power (TYO: 9501) dropped 1.6 percent to ¥3,030 on the news.

Clothing retailer Fast Retailing (TYO: 9983) was 3.6 percent lower to ¥6,490 on its declaration that it will continue to pursue acquisitions after recently failing to buy Barney’s New York.

The real estate sector was down 1.8 percent as a whole on the news that capital spending was down by 47 percent in the sector from the same quarter last year.

Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) dropped 1 percent to ¥3,010, while Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) was down 2.7 percent to ¥2,900.

House builder Sekisui House (TYO: 1928; OTC: SKHSY) fell 3.7 percent to ¥1,425.

In the transport sector, Kawasaki Kisen (TYO: 9107) dropped 0.78 percent to ¥1,535 and Mitsui OSK Lines (TYO: 9104) was down 1.1 percent to ¥1,725 after the price of dry freight rose again.

In Tokyo on Thursday the Nikkei 225 was 0.67 percent higher to 16,984.11 and the Topix index gained 0.03 percent to 1,669.33, but the Mothers market fell 0.21 percent to 830.18.

Gains were helped by a new report from Japan’s National Tax Agency which showed that land prices in the country were 8.6 percent higher last year, with a gain of 17 percent in Tokyo.

The report sent the real estate sector higher. Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) added 4.2 percent to ¥3,230, while Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) gained 6.3 percent to ¥3,200 and Tokyu Land (TYO: 8815) was up 7.9 percent to ¥1,208.

In addition, homebuilder Daiwa House Industry Co (TYO: 1925) was 4 percent higher to ¥1,570.

The retail sector also saw gains, with Fast Retailing (TYO: 9983) adding 4.8 percent to ¥6,820 on a successful bid for the Barneys New York chain of department stores, owned by Jones Apparel Group (NYSE: JNY).

Drug maker Chugai Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4519) gained 2.7 percent to ¥2,075 on an increased full-year projecting, while Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503) was 3.1 percent higher to ¥5,050 on a fiscal first quarter net income gain of 52 percent.

In the electronics sector Pioneer (TYO: 6773) dropped 4.5 percent to ¥1,546 on a decline of 40 percent in sales of plasma televisions in the quarter, while Casio (TYO: 6952) fell 4.6 percent to ¥1,699 after it said quarterly operating profit was down 78 percent in the most recent quarter on poor sales of mobile phones.

Banks also saw declines, with Resona (TYO: 8308) down 3.3 percent to ¥238,000 and Mizuho (TYO: 8411) dropping 4.7 percent to ¥730,000.

Equities markets in Tokyo were lower on Thursday.

The Nikkei 225 was 0.9 percent lower to 17,702.09 and the Topix index dropped 1 percent to 1,737.18, while the Mothers market was down 0.66 percent to 852.13.

Tokyo’s declines came as investors worried about the outcome of parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday, where polls suggest that the ruling Liberal Democratic party could have a difficult time holding the Upper House.

Domestic sectors were particularly affected.

In the real estate sector, Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) dropped 1.9 percent to ¥3,160, while among retailers Seven & I (TYO: 3382) was 1.7 percent lower to ¥3,430.

In the semiconductors sector, Advantest (TYO: 6857; NYSE: ATE) dropped 5.2 percent to ¥4,920 after it said that net profits were down 13 percent in the most recent quarter.

Earnings reports helped games maker Nintendo (TYO: 7974; NAS: NTDOY; FWB: NTO), which upped its earnings guidance for the full year by 41 percent as it reported sharp profits in the quarter to June from its Wii games console.

Nintendo added 8.8 percent to ¥61,800.

A profits report also aided Nomura Holdings (TYO: 8604; NYSE: NMR; SGX; N33), which gained 6.6 percent to ¥2,260.

The Tokyo equities markets joined the rest of Asia, and the rest of the world, in declines on Wednesday. The Nikkei 225 fell 2.9 percent to 16,676.89, while the Topix index also dropped 2.9 percent on the session, to 1,674.94.

Export-focused sectors were lower on earlier strengthening of the yen. The automobile manufacturing sector was down 2.8 percent as a whole. Toyota (TYO: 7203.T; NYSE: TM; LSE: TYT) performed even worse than the sector, dropping 3.2 percent to ¥7,540.

The sea transport sector lost 2.3 percent overall, with Mitsui OSK (TYO: 9140) falling 3.8 percent to ¥1,307.

Among domestic sectors, real estate was 5.6 percent lower, with both Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; NAS: MDSFF) and Sumitomo Realty & Development (TYO: 8830) doing worse than the sector as a whole. Mitsui Fudosan was 6.4 percent lower to ¥3,220, while Sumitomo Realty & Development (TYO: 8830) dropped 6.8 percent to ¥4,540.

The iron and steel sector was also lower, by 4.1 percent, with Nippon Steel (TYO: 5401) down 3.8 percent to ¥835.

Nikko Cordial (TYO: 8603; SGX: N06) was not traded after buy orders flooded in after Citigroup (NYSE: C) was said to have raised its bid for the broker. The buy orders, at ¥1,690, were 13.4 percent higher than Tuesday’s closing price.