Japan Hot Stocks-Mitsui High-Tec, Pilot, Disco

TOKYO Aug 10 (Reuters) - The benchmark Nikkei average .N225 fell 0.5 percent and the broader TOPIX .TOPX was 0.6 percent lower on Tuesday.

The following stocks were on the move:

**MITSUI HIGH-TEC (6966.T) DROPS AFTER PROFIT ESTIMATE CUT

Shares of Mitsui High-Tec slumped 10.7 percent to 509 yen, their lowest in 17 months, after the maker of integrated circuit leadframes cut it's earnings estimate for the six months ended July 31. The company said it probably had an operating loss of 600 million yen compared with an earlier forecast for a 200 million yen loss.

Mitsui High-Tec blamed the revision on intensifying competition lowering prices for its components and a strengthening yen. The firm will also post a charge to cover the depreciation of plant and equipment.

0449 GMT

**PILOT CORP (7846.T) HITS 20-MTH HIGH ON FORECAST REVISION**

Shares of Pilot Corp rose 4.1 percent to 158,000 yen after the maker of pens and other stationery products on Monday posted a higher-than-expected profit for the first half ended June 30 and lifted its full year net profit outlook by 36 percent.

Earlier the stock rose as high as 167,900 yen, its highest in 20 months.

The company said its earnings improved in step with a recovery in the domestic and overseas economies and growing demand in emerging markets, but said a stronger yen and signs of weakness in Europe and the U.S. had clouded the outlook somewhat.

Pilot said it now expected to post a net profit of 3.4 billion yen for the year ending Dec. 31, up from its prior estimate of 2.5 billion yen. It kept its full-year sales forecast unchanged at 70 billion yen. [ID:nT908C9CKK] 0335 GMT **DISCO (6146.T) SOARS AFTER HIKING FULL-YEAR FORECAST**

Shares of Disco soared 7.3 percent to 5,140 yen after the maker of semiconductor grinding and cutting equipment hiked its full year operating profit forecast to 18.8 billion yen from 12.1 billion yen, citing a pick-up in demand for semiconductors, particularly in Asia. 0103 GMT **M'BISHI MATERIALS UP AFTER ROBUST EARNINGS, LIFTS FORECAST**

Mitsubishi Materials (5711.T) climbed 5.1 percent to 249 yen after the nonferrous metals smelter more than doubled its half-year operating profit forecast to 26 billion yen ($302.5 million) from 12 billion yen and tripled its recurring profit forecast to 24 billion yen from 8 billion yen.

It also swung to a profit in results for the April-June quarter after posting a loss for the same period last year.

The company attributed the gains to higher-than-expected metals prices, especially copper, as well as improved demand for cars and semiconductors. 0040 GMT **NIPPON PAINT (4612.T) SURGES AFTER LIFTS FULL-YEAR FORECAST**

Nippon Paint, one of Japan's largest paint makers, rose 6.2 percent to 551 yen after lifting its operating profit forecast for the year ending in March 2011 to 15.3 billion yen ($178 million) from 12.5 billion yen.

The company said the hike was due to good business in its auto paint sector, as government support schemes for purchases of so-called "eco cars" boosted automobile production. 0023 GMT **EXPORTERS RISE AS DOLLAR HOLDS TO GAINS NEAR 86 YEN**

Kyocera Corp (6971.T) and other exporters rose as the dollar clung just under 86 yen JPY=, holding onto gains made on Monday as investors squared up positions ahead of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement.

Many Japanese exporters have set their currency rate assumptions around 90 yen per dollar for the financial year to next March, although Honda Motor Co (7267.T) cut its assumption to 87 yen from 90 yen. A stronger yen eats into exporter profits when repatriated.

Kyocera rose 1.4 percent to 7,890 yen, chip gear maker Tokyo Electron (8035.T) rose 1.9 percent to 4,530 yen, and chip tester maker Advantest Corp (6857.T) gained 1 percent to 1,865 yen. Honda edged up 0.4 percent to 2,874 yen. 0013 GMT