Tokyo’s markets were higher Thursday.

The Nikkei 225 gained 0.89 percent to 17,106.09 and the Topix index was 1.09 percent higher to 1,617.75, while the Mothers market jumped 7.22 percent to 883.84.

Banks and brokers were higher after US bank JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM; TYO: 8634) reported quarterly profits that were better than had been expected.

Mitsubishi UFJ (TYO: 8306; NYSE: MTU) added 2.3 percent to ¥1,040, while Sumitomo Mitusi (TYO: 8316) gained 3 percent to ¥848,000 and Mizuho Financial Group (TYO: 8411; NYSE: MFG) was 3.8 percent higher to ¥630,000.

Broker Nomura (TYO: 8604; NYSE: NMR; SGX: N33) was up 1.5 percent to ¥1,984 and credit card issuer Credit Saison (TYO: 8253) added 2.5 percent to ¥3,230.

Exporters did better after the yen weakened in relation to the US dollar.

Camera maker Canon (TYO: 7751; NYSE: CAJ) gained 2.7 percent to ¥6,100.

Retailers saw declines after the International Monetary Fund cut its prediction of Japanese economic growth from 2.6 percent to 2 percent for this year and from 2 percent to 1.7 percent for next year.

Departments store operator J. Front Retailing (TYO: 3086) dropped 2 percent to ¥1,026 while Seven & I (TYO: 3382) fell 2.2 percent to ¥2,870.

Tokyo’s markets were mixed on Wednesday.

The Nikkei 225 was 0.1 percent higher to 17,177.89, but the Topix index dropped 0.11 percent to 1,658.18 and the Mothers market was down 1.75 percent to 857.19.

Retailers saw gains on news of a cooperation agreement between Aeon (TYO: 8267) and Japan Airlines (TYO: 9205) in which the retailer will link its electronic money card to the airline’s frequent flyer miles program.

Aeon added 6.2 percent to ¥1,784, while Japan Airlines gained 4.3 percent to ¥265.

Elsewhere in the retail sector, department store operator Takashimaya (TYO: 8233) was 3.2 percent higher to ¥1,329 on better recommendations from Mizuho Securities and Nikko Citigroup.

Mizuho raised its recommendation from “reduce” to “hold”, while Nikko upped their rating on the retailer from “hold” to “buy”.

Elsewhere in the sector, Seven & I (TYO: 3382) was up 3.7 percent to ¥3,090 while supermarket chain Daiei (TYO: 8263; NAS: DAIEY) added 6.3 percent to ¥940.

Traders and commodities-related groups were higher after oil and metals prices rose overnight.

In the oil sector, Inpex (TYO: 1605) was up 3.4 percent to ¥1.21 million, while Nippon Mining (TYO: 5016) gained 2.1 percent to ¥1,177.

Among traders, Mitsubishi and Mitsui & Co. each added 1.4 percent, to ¥3,520 and ¥2,810 respectively.

Banks were lower, however. Mizuho (TYO: 8411; NYSE: MFG) was down 1.1 percent to ¥703,000 while Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (TYO: 8316) dropped 2.5 percent to ¥948,000.

In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 closed 2.4 percent lower to 17,283.81 on Friday, while the Topix index ended the session at 1,699.71, a drop of 2.2 percent.

The Mother’s market of small and mid-caps was down 1.51 percent to 839.27.

Export sectors were hit hard by worries that the global economy could slow.

Among carmakers, Toyota (TYO: 7203.T; NYSE: TM; LSE: TYT) fell 1.6 percent to ¥7,260, it lowest share price in six weeks, while Honda (TYO: 7267; NYSE: HMC) dropped 2.5 percent to ¥4,310.

Camera manufacturer Canon (TYO: 7751; NYSE: CAJ) was 5.5 percent lower to ¥6,510 even though it reported that its net profits were up 19 percent in the first half of 2007.

Games maker Nintendo (TYO:7974; NAS: NTODY; FWB: NTO) was down 6.2 percent to ¥58,000.

Shipper Mitsui OSK Lines (TYO: 9104) dropped 2.7 percent to ¥1,782.

Domestic sectors were also lower, still worried about Sunday’s elections as polls continue to say that the ruling Liberal Democrats could lose control of the Upper House of parliament.

In the retail sector, Seven & I (TYO: 3382) fell 1.2 percent to ¥3,390, while supermarket chain Aeon (TYO: 8267) was 4.6 percent lower to ¥1,917.

Among banks, Mitsubishi UFJ (TYO: 8306; NYSE: MTU) was down 3 percent to ¥1,290,000.

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.

Major equities markets in Tokyo were lower on Wednesday.

The Nikkei 225 fell 0.8 percent to 17,858.42, while the Topix index dropped 0.68 percent to 1,754.03.

On the other hand, the Mothers market of small and mid-caps added 0.66 percent to close at 857.81.

The retail sector was mixed.

In mergers rumors, department stores Mitsukoshi (TYO: 2779) and Isetan (TYO: 8238) were said to be talking about making a capital alliance and could look to merge later on.

Mitsukoshi added 7.51 percent to ¥587 and Isetan closed even at ¥1,901, while elsewhere in the retail sector, Seven & I (TYO: 3382) fell 0.29 percent to ¥3,490.

Exporters were hurt by a stronger yen.

In the automobile manufacturing sector Toyota Motor (TYO: 7203.T; NYSE: TM; LSE: TYT) was 1.33 percent lower to ¥7,410, while Honda Motor (TYO: 7267; NYSE: HMC) dropped 1.78 percent to ¥4,420.

In the electronics sector Sony (TYO: 6758; NYSE: SNE) was down 0.32 percent to ¥6,280 and Matushita Electric Industrial (TYO: 6572; NYSE: MC) fell 3.59 percent to ¥2,285.

In the oil sector, Nippon Oil (TYO: 5001) dropped 3.86 percent to ¥1,121 as the price of crude oil continued to decline.

The Tokyo equities markets were lower on Friday as the Nikkei 225 fell 0.4 percent to 18,140.94 and the Topix index dropped 0.5 percent to 1,779.67.

The real estate sector declined after government bond yields advanced, with Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) and Sumitomo Realty & Development (TYO: 8830) each dropping 1.5 percent, to ¥3,370 and ¥3,990 respectively.

Declines in the retail sector continued as Seven & I (TYO: 3382) fell 0.8 percent to ¥3,570 even though it said profits were 6 percent higher in the three months ending in May compared to the same period last year.

TV Tokyo (TYO: 9411) was 5.3 percent lower to ¥4,090 after its second largest shareholder said he would sell his 12.5 percent stake in the broadcaster.

Tokyo markets were higher as the Nikkei 225 and the Topix index each added 0.3 percent, to 18,221.48 and 1,788.16 respectively.

However, the consumer finance sector there saw declines on media reports that many borrowers are asking for refunds of overcharges on loan interest.

Promise (TYO: 8574) fell 2.4 percent to ¥3,710, while Aiful (TYO: 8515) was 4 percent lower to ¥3,360 and Acom (TYO: 8572; OTC: ACMU) dropped 4.1 percent to ¥4,250.

Bucking the trend was Credit Saison (TYO: 8253), which added 1.3 percent to ¥3,200.

The retail sector added 0.8 percent as a whole, with Aeon (TYO: 8267) up 0.9 percent to ¥2,310. Seven & I (TYO: 3382) gained 2.6 percent to ¥3,600 on an upgrade from “neutral” to “buy” from Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER; TYO: 8675).

In the electronics sector, Matsushita Electric Industrial (TYO: 6572; NYSE: MC) was 0.4 percent higher to ¥2,445, while Nintendo (TYO: 7974; NAS: NTDOY; FWB: NTO) gained 0.5 percent to ¥48,250 and Sony (TYO: 6758; NYSE: SNE) added 2.4 percent to ¥6,460 after recent declines due to poor sales of its PlayStation 3 games console.

Retail sectors advanced in Tokyo on Thursday after new gross domestic product figures showed that the Japanese economy grew at an annualized rate of 4.8 percent in the last quarter of 2006, above expectations of 3.8 percent growth for the quarter. It is widely expected that the Bank of Japan will use the new report as an excuse to hike interest rates when it next meets. The Nikkei 225 added 0.81 percent to 17,897.23, its highest close since May 2000. The Topix index gained 0.65 percent to 1,776.71.

Department stores and general retail both were helped by the new data. Among department stores, Marui added 7.28 percent to ¥1,533, while Mitsukoshi gained 7.75 percent to ¥584. Takashimaya was 10.03 percent higher to ¥1,690. Japan’s largest general retailer, Seven & I Holdings, was up 4.75 percent to ¥3,750.

The consumer finance sector, on the other hand, declined. Orient dropped 19.41 percent to ¥191 after it said it expects to incur losses for the current fiscal year. It blamed new, more stringent government rules on how much interest lenders can charger their customers for the anticipated narrowing of margins. Acom dropped 0.88 percent on the session, to ¥4,480.

The Nikkei 225 and the Topix index both saw gains on Wednesday as export-focused stocks were up, but gains were limited by declines in utilities and in the consumer finance sector. The Nikkei added 0.3 percent to 16,692.93, while the Topix gained 0.2 percent to 1,639.19. Meanwhile, the Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks dropped 1.1 percent to 1,125.85.

In the retail sector, department stores saw gains but weren’t able to lift the sector as a whole. Takashimaya was 1.1 percent higher to ¥1,717, while Isetan ended 1.6 percent higher to ¥2,150. On the other hand, Seven & I dropped 0.6 percent to ¥3,630.

Exporters that saw gains included Canon, which added 1.1 percent to ¥6,540. In the electronics sector, Sony was 1.9 percent higher to ¥4,880. Sharp, however, dropped 1.5 percent to ¥2,040 on the news that it is being investigated for price fixing of liquid crystal displays.

Utilities were down on profit-taking. Tokyo Electric Power fell 0.5 percent to ¥3,720, while Kansai Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power each dropped 0.7 percent to ¥3,050 and ¥2,895 respectively.

The consumer finance sector declined after parliament passed a bill that will cut the maximum amount of interest the lenders can charger their customers. Takefuji was 1.1 percent lower to ¥4,470, while Aiful fell 1.6 percent to ¥3,610 and Credit Saison dropped 1.9 percent to ¥4,100.

The Tokyo equities markets were substantially higher on Wednesday. The Nikkei 225 added 1.1 percent to 15,914.23 and the Topix index gained 1.3 percent to 1,552.87, while the Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks was up 6 percent to 1,069.72 following multi-year lows reached earlier in the week. The gain in the Mothers index came as investors came to believe that stocks listed there have fallen enough to qualify as bargains.

Gains in the prices of metals took the non-ferrous metals sector 4.1 percent higher, with Sumitomo Metal Mining adding 3.4 percent to ¥1,414. Oil prices that were up Tuesday due to bad weather in Alaska sent Inpex 4.6 percent higher to ¥937,000.

Domestic sectors saw gains as well. The banking sector was up 2 percent as a whole, with Mitsubishi UFJ adding 2.2 percent to ¥1,420,000. Seven & I gained 2.3 percent to ¥3,500 in a retail sector that was 2.8 percent higher as a whole. The real estate sector was up 3 percent, with Mitsui Fudosan adding 2.1 percent to ¥2,620.

Telecommunications and internet company Softbank saw a gain of 8.4 percent on the session, to ¥2,320.

Among losers on the day was electronics maker NEC, dropping 5.6 percent to ¥557 on a report that showed losses in the first half and on a 64 percent downward revision in its prediction for the full year.