Japan stocks fall, Fanuc hurt by machinery news

(Updates to midmorning)

TOKYO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks fell on Friday, with industrial robot maker Fanuc Ltd (6954.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) sold after weaker-than-expected core private-sector machinery orders.

Investors were holding back ahead of a three-day weekend, with the market gyrating between positive and negative territory.

On the positive side, Japan Tobacco Inc (2914.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd (6767.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) rose sharply as investors favoured companies with solid earnings amid a darkening economic outlook.

"Shares have come down to a level that attracts bargain hunters, but investors are inclined to sell ahead of the weekend," said Yoku Ihara, manager of investment information department as Retela Crea Securities.

As of 0122 GMT, the benchmark Nikkei average .N225 fell 0.5 percent at 13,139.00. The broader TOPIX index lost 0.5 percent to 1,299.09.

Fanuc fell 2.2 percent to 9,100 yen after government data showed Japan's core private-sector machinery orders fell a more-than-expected 3.2 percent in December. [ID:nT153325]

Japan Tobacco jumped 5.3 percent to 616,000 yen after it revised up its full-year operating profit forecast, citing the expansion of its overseas cigarette business and the inclusion of earnings by a frozen food firm it had acquired.

Japan Tobacco, the world's third-biggest cigarette maker, lifted its operating profit projection for the year ending in March by 4.2 percent to 422 billion yen ($3.93 billion).