Japanese stocks went into the lunch....>

JAPAN STOCKS: Japanese stocks went into the lunch break higher, the Nikkei 225

up 43.25 points at 20,093.41. After opening around 15 points lower on stronger

yen in the wake of US dollar weakness after the FOMC, the Nikkei dropped to

session lows at 20,005. The market then spiked higher to 20,104 as earnings

saved the day.

- Positive earnings from Nintendo and Line among others saw a switch to positive

sentiment, with strong earnings from Samsung in South Korea also boosting stocks

in Asia-Pac region. The gains on the indices come despite further strength in

the yen, USD/JPY dropping through 111.00. 10/11 sectors are in the green, led

higher by real estate and utilities. Financials are the only sector in the red,

as yields drop in the wake of the FOMC rate announcement.

- Stock indices are mostly in the green in Asia, the ASX 200 up 18 points as oil

and metals hold gains. The Hang Seng is up 87 points, but mainland China indices

are down around 20 points. Meanwhile in Singapore Noble group plummeted almost

50% on $1.8bln loss warnings and plans to sell the majority of its ops outside

Asia.