Japan stocks seen easing as financials lose steam

TOKYO, March 24 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks are seen likely
to snap a three-day winning streak on Monday, with financial
issues such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) losing
steam after sharp gains the previous session.

"After ending higher late last week, the market will likely
take a breather, particularly as investors expect lacklustre
results from a corporate sentiment survey data before the
opening," said Kazuhiro Takahashi, general manager of the equity
marketing department at Daiwa Securities SMBC.

The quarterly joint survey by the Ministry of Finance and the
Cabinet Office on corporate sentiment for January-March will be
released at 8:50 a.m. (2350 GMT Sunday).

"With most European markets closed today, the Nikkei will
probably hover around 12,000," Takahashi said.

Market participants expect the benchmark Nikkei average
.N225 to move between 12,200 and 12,600 on Monday.

The Nikkei ended up 1.8 percent at 12,482.57 on Friday,
gaining 2 percent for the holiday-shortened week.

U.S. markets were closed on Friday for Easter, as was most of
Europe, which will also stay shut on Monday.
---------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2257 GMT ------------

INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 .SPX 1329.51 2.39% 31.090
USD/JPY <JPY=> 99.51 0.18% 0.180
10-YR US TSY YLD <US10YT=RR> 3.341 -- 0.000
SPOT GOLD <XAU=> 912.6 -0.71% -6.500
US CRUDE CLc1 101.1 -0.73% -0.740
DOW JONES .DJI 12361.32 2.16% 261.66
-------------------------------------------------------------
> Wall St surges on hopes of easing credit crunch [.N]
> Dollar edges up, posts gains after rough week [USD/]
> Bonds fall as stocks rise draws away flows [US/]
> Gold dips but off 1-month lows; Thai buyers emerge [GOL/]
> Oil extends slide on economic worries [O/R]
STOCKS TO WATCH

-- Nissan Motor Co. (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

Nissan, Japan's third-largest automaker, expects to beat its
global sales target for the year ending March 31, Chief Executive
Carlos Ghosn said on Friday. [ID:nKLR7597]

-- Toyota Motor Co (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

Toyota plans to build a plant in Japan to meet growing global
demand for engines for compact cars, a source familiar with the
matter said on Saturday. [ID:nT333247]

-- Shimadzu Corp (7701.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

Japanese analytical instruments and airplane components maker
Shimadzu has held preliminary talks with representatives of
Airbus (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) after repeated delays in plane deliveries at
client Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz). [ID:nT327718]

-- Mizuho Financial Group Inc (8411.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

Japan's second-largest bank, said on Friday it would further
delay the merger of two affiliate brokerages until next year due
to ballooning subprime losses at unit Mizuho Securities.
[ID:nT277989]

-- Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd (1332.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

Nippon Suisan, Japan's No.2 fishing firm, halved its
operating profit forecast for the year to March 31 on Friday but
its president said he was sticking to the company's mid-term
profit outlook. [ID:nT198760]

-- United Technology Holdings Co (2146.Q: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Goodwill Group Inc
(4723.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

Staffing firm United Technology said on Friday it had bought
30 percent of scandal-hit rival Goodwill Group, setting the stage
for a potential battle with U.S. fund Cerberus and Morgan Stanley
(MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) for control of the firm. [ID:nT340592]

-- Hokuriku Electric Power (9505.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

Hokuriku said on Friday it expects to restart the No.2
generator unit at its Shika nuclear plant in central Japan on
March 26 after receiving permission to do so from local
governments. [ID:nT345653]

-- Yamada Denki (9831.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

Electronics retailer Yamada Denki is expected to post an 11
percent rise in group pretax profit in the business year starting
on April 1 as it expands its network of stores and slashes costs,
the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.
(Reporting by Aiko Hayashi, Editing by Michael Watson)