Z Holdings Corp

Japan's Nikkei edged higher on cautious optimism, underpinned by gains on Wall Street and prospects of a Sino-U.S. trade deal, while Z Holdings and Line Corp advanced after a formal merger announcement.

Japanese shares hit 1-1/2-week lows on Thursday after profit-taking set in as doubts over an interim U.S.-China trade deal grew, while Line Corp and Z Holdings jumped on news the Yahoo Japan operator was in merger talks with messaging app firm Line.

Japanese shares retreated to one-week lows on Thursday as doubts over an interim U.S.-China trade deal lifted the safe-haven yen, while Line Corp and Z Holdings surged on news that the Yahoo Japan operator was in merger talks with messaging app firm Line.

Japanese Internet firm Z Holdings , the SoftBank-owned operator of Yahoo Japan, said on Thursday it was in talks to merge with messaging app operator Line Corp.

SoftBank's Z Holdings Corp <4689.T> is in talks to merge with messaging app operator Line Corp <3938.T>, two sources said on Wednesday, the investment company's latest bet on a struggling tech firm.

Japanese internet firm Z Holdings Corp and messaging app operator Line Corp are set to merge, aiming to create an e-commerce giant spanning finance, retail and other services, the Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday.

Yahoo Japan Corp <4689.T> said it will take over Japan's biggest online fashion retailer Zozo Inc <3092.T> for 400 billion yen ($3.7 billion), seeking to breathe fresh life into the business and compete better against the likes of Amazon.com <AMZN.O>.

Internet and e-commerce company Yahoo Japan Corp, will launch a takeover bid for online clothing retailer Zozo Inc, public broadcaster NHK said on Thursday.

Yahoo Japan Corp <4689.T> said on Wednesday it will end the sale of ivory on the country's biggest online auction site, finally joining competitors in a ban.

Yahoo Japan says to ban ivory trading from 1st November.

Yahoo Japan says to ban ivory trading from November 1st (Reporting by Sam Nussey)

Yahoo Japan Corp plans to end the sale of ivory on the country's biggest online auction site, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday, finally joining competitors in a ban.

Japanese telco SoftBank Corp <9434.T> said on Monday its operating profit in the quarter ended June rose 4%, in line with estimates, as the number of mobile users grew.

Japan's Nikkei fell for a fourth day to a six-week low as investors remained cautious ahead of the next round of U.S-China trade talks, while SoftBank Corp and Yahoo Japan were under the spotlight after their alignment news.

Japanese telco SoftBank Corp said on Wednesday it would spend $4 billion (3 billion pounds) to up its stake in Yahoo Japan Corp and turn the internet company into a subsidiary, a move that would help boost its profit by 24 percent this year.

Japan's SoftBank Corp said on Wednesday it would buy 456.5 billion yen ($4.15 billion) worth of new shares to be issued by Yahoo Japan Corp, boosting its stake to 44.64 percent from 12.08 percent.

Japanese regulators are investigating Apple Inc over allegations it unfairly pressured Yahoo Japan Corp to slow the expansion of its online games platform, which competes with Apple's App Store, Japanese media reported on Thursday.

SoftBank Group is increasing its stake in Yahoo Japan through a $2 billion, three-way deal with U.S. firm Altaba to deepen ties with the internet heavyweight ahead of an IPO of its telecoms unit.

SoftBank Group Corp said on Tuesday that its unit SoftBank Corp would buy 221 billion yen ($2 billion) worth of shares in Yahoo Japan Corp, a 10.78 percent stake, held by U.S. investment firm Altaba Inc .