Nikkei to rise on Wall St, high-techs may shine

TOKYO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei is likely to rise on
Tuesday, with high-tech shares such as Tokyo Electron Ltd
(8035.T) getting a boost after their U.S. rivals gained and after
the yen fell against the dollar.

Chipmakers may draw attention after the Nikkei business daily
reported Toshiba Corp (6502.T) and a U.S. firm would jointly
invest 150 billion yen to boost their venture's production
capacity by about 40 percent, while DRAM chipmaker Elpida
6665.T plans capital spending of 60 billion yen in 2010/11.

"A rise in the Nasdaq and a weaker yen will prompt investors
to chase high-tech shares and other exporters," said Toshiyuki
Kanayama, market analyst at Monex Inc.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 is likely to move between 10,100
and 10,300, market players said. It rose 0.4 percent to
10,183.47, its highest close in eight weeks.

Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 2NKc1 finished at 10,310,
up 1.2 percent from the Osaka close JNIc1.

U.S. stocks gained on Monday, with the Nasdaq hitting a
15-month high after a healthcare reform bill advanced in the
Senate and brokerages upgraded two Dow components on improving
profit prospects.

The dollar hovered near a six-week high against the yen in
early Asian trade, staying above 91 yen.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2307 GMT ------------

INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 .SPX 1114.05 1.05% 11.580
USD/JPY JPY= 91.17 0.05% 0.050
10-YR US TSY YLD US10YT=RR 3.6803 -- 0.000
SPOT GOLD XAU= 1092.15 -0.06% -0.700
US CRUDE CLc1 72.47 -1.21% -0.890
DOW JONES .DJI 10414.14 0.83% 85.25
-------------------------------------------------------------
> Health shares lift Wall St; Nasdaq at 15-month high [.N]
> U.S. dollar jumps to 6-week high vs yen [USD/]
> Treasury prices fall on stronger growth outlooks [US/]
> Gold falls as more dollar strength expected [GOL/]
> Oil falls 1.2 pct as dollar strengthens [O/R]

STOCKS TO WATCH

-- JFE Holdings Inc (5411.T)

JFE Steel Corp, a unit of JFE Holdings, said it would restart
a blast furnace in western Japan next February after finishing
planned repairs. [ID:nTOE5BK06D]

-- Honda Motor Co (7267.T)

Honda said it will unveil at the Delhi auto show next month a
concept model of a new small car that it is developing for India
and other emerging markets. [ID:nTOE5BK06S]

-- All Nippon Airways (ANA) (9202.T)

ANA formally decided to order 10 planes from Boeing (BA.N)
for about $2.1 billion to tap new passenger demand as Tokyo's
Haneda airport expands. [ID:nTOE5BK08E]

-- Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T)

French state-owned nuclear power group Areva CEPFi.PA and
Japanese group Mitsubishi have agreed terms for a Mongolia
uranium partnership, Areva said on Monday. [ID:nWEA6366]

-- Lawson Inc (2651.T)

Lawson, Japan's second-largest convenience store chain, said
it aims to boost its store numbers in China by 10 times in five
to 10 years as it seeks growth outside its saturated home market.
[ID:nTOE5BK039]

-- Toray Industries (3402.T)

Toray Industries said it would invest 60 billion yen in a
joint venture with TonenGeneral Sekiyu (5012.T) to make
lithium-ion battery separator film. The two firms had announced
plans for the joint venture last month. The investment will give
Toray a 50 percent stake in the joint venture. [ID:nTFA006533]

-- NTT Data (9613.T)

NTT Data Corp, Japan's largest domestic system integrator,
said it will launch a bid for NJK (9748.T), a software developer.
[ID:nTFA006535]
(Reporting by Rika Otsuka; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)