Japan stocks seen easing after gains, firmer yen

TOKYO, March 26 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks are expected to
take a breather on Wednesday after hitting a two-week closing
high the previous day, with exporters such as Canon Inc (7751.T: Quote, Profile, Research)
also likely to be pressured by a slightly stronger yen.

Tuesday was the last day on which investors were able to buy
many Japanese stocks and still receive dividends for the year
ending on March 31.

Kazuhiro Takahashi, general manager of the equity marketing
department at Daiwa Securities SMBC, said the market expects this
ex-dividend impact could result in a decline of around 100 points
from Tuesday's close on the Nikkei average .N225.

"The market, including exporters, is also likely to ease
after advances up to yesterday," he said.

Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 2NKc1 ended Tuesday at
12,775, which was 45 points above their close in Osaka.

The Nikkei rose 2.1 percent to 12,745.22 on Tuesday to post
its highest finish since March 12.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2257 GMT ------------

INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 .SPX 1352.99 0.23% 3.110
USD/JPY <JPY=> 99.94 -0.01% -0.010
10-YR US TSY YLD <US10YT=RR> 3.511 -- 0.000
SPOT GOLD <XAU=> 939.7 0.15% 1.400
US CRUDE CLc1 101.49 0.27% 0.270
DOW JONES .DJI 12532.60 -0.13% -16.04
-------------------------------------------------------------
> S&P 500, Nasdaq inch up; Clear Channel hit late [.N]
> Dollar falls on dour data, improved risk appeal [USD/]
> Bonds climb as weak data renews safety buying [US/]
> Gold bounces on dollar drop, platinum soars [GOL/]
> Oil gains on weak dollar [O/R]
STOCKS TO WATCH

-- All Nippon Airways (9202.T: Quote, Profile, Research)

All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's second-largest airline,
plans to establish a low-cost airline in Asia as early as in the
next business year starting in April, the Nikkei business daily
reported on Wednesday.

The move is aimed at countering an expected increase in
competition from budget Asian airlines in step with expansions at
Haneda and Narita airports in 2010, the newspaper said.

-- Resona Holdings (8308.T: Quote, Profile, Research)

Resona, Japan's fourth-largest bank, said on Tuesday it would
fall short of a revenue target for the January-March quarter as a
weak stock market led to sluggish sales of investment trusts.
[ID:nT360443]

-- Chuo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc (8309.T: Quote, Profile, Research)

Chuo Mitsui, Japan's ninth-largest bank by market value, said
on Tuesday that it expects to fall 18 percent short of its net
profit forecast for the year ending this month, hurt by losses on
its share holdings and weak sales of investment trusts.

-- Nissan Motor Co (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research)

Nissan plans to produce a 1-liter global strategic vehicle
for developing countries in Thailand from 2010, the Nikkei
business daily reported on Wednesday.

-- Idemitsu Kosan (5019.T: Quote, Profile, Research)

Idemitsu, Japan's third-biggest oil refiner, said on Tuesday
it has agreed to acquire all shares of Sumitomo Corp's (8053.T: Quote, Profile, Research)
wholly owned oil products retailer in order to strengthen its
domestic distribution network amid falling domestic demand.
[ID:nT360172]

-- Hitachi Ltd (6501.T: Quote, Profile, Research)

Hitachi, Japan's biggest electronics conglomerate, has ended
talks with U.S. private equity firm Silver Lake about selling it
a stake in its hard drive unit, sources familiar with the
situation said. [ID:nT351953]
(Reporting by Aiko Hayashi; Editing by Chris Gallagher)