Reuters - The Nikkei average extended gains to rise more than 2 percent by midafternoon on Thursday as investors bought Advantest Corp (6857.T) and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (6752.T) and others with strong earnings results.

Reuters - The Nikkei rose 0.80 percent by Thursday afternoon as Advantest Corp. (6857.T) and other blue-chips gained on views they had fallen too far in a six-week tumble, but worries about the U.S. economy limited rises.

Reuters - The Nikkei share average plunged 4.14 percent on Tuesday to book its biggest one-day percentage loss in two years as Advantest Corp. (6857.T) and other high-tech firms fell after drops in their U.S. peers, while concerns over price competition sent flat-screen TV makers lower.