Softbank shares open up 6.4 pct on iPhone deal

TOKYO, June 5 (Reuters) - Shares of Softbank Corp (9984.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) opened up 6.4 percent on Thursday following news that Japan's third-largest mobile phone operator will start selling Apple Inc's (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) popular iPhone in Japan this year.

Softbank announced the deal on Wednesday but did not give further details such as if it had exclusive rights to sell the device. [ID:nT295311]

As of 0016 GMT, Softbank's stock was up 116 yen at 1,982 yen. Japan's top mobile phone operator, NTT DoCoMo Inc (9437.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), was down 1.3 percent at 158,000 yen, while No.2 operator KDDI Corp (9433.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) fell 2 percent to 699,000 yen.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne)