*Sony cuts 2014-15 camera sales fcast to 1.3 trln yen from 1.5 trln. Third Point's "proposal is one that affects a core part of Sony's business and the direction of our management, so the Sony board will give it thorough consideration before replying to Mr.
*Gold still trading near 2- year lows. SINGAPORE, May 22- Gold rose on Wednesday on strong Chinese demand and after Federal Reserve officials allayed investor concerns that the U.S. central bank will soon exit its bullion-friendly bond purchases.
*BOJ refrains from measures to calm bond market. TOKYO, May 22- Japanese government bonds ended almost flat on Wednesday, erasing early gains on disappointment the Bank of Japan did not act to calm jitters rooted in the bond's market rout over the past six weeks.
*Sony jumps on report of assessing spin-off proposal. TOKYO, May 22- The Nikkei average climbed 1.6 percent to a fresh 5-1/ 2- year high on Wednesday, spurred on by the Bank of Japan's optimism about the economic outlook, while Sony Corp surged on reports it may consider a proposal to spin off its entertainment assets.
TOKYO, May 22- Japan's Sony Corp lowered its sales target for digital cameras to 1.3 trillion yen for the fiscal year to end-March 2015, from a previous estimate of 1.5 trillion yen. Sony also cut its sales target for smartphones and tablets to 1.5 trillion yen in its 2014 fiscal year from an earlier outlook of 1.8 trillion yen.
TOKYO, May 22- The Nikkei average climbed 1.6 percent to a fresh 5-1/ 2- year high on Wednesday, spurred on by the Bank of Japan's optimism about the economic outlook, while Sony Corp surged on reports it may consider a proposal to spin off its entertainment assets.
SINGAPORE, May 22- Asian stocks rose on Wednesday following a positive lead from Wall Street, with Japan's Nikkei reaching a fresh 5-1/ 2 year high and clinging to its gains as the Bank of Japan stood pat after unleashing massive stimulus last month.
TOKYO, May 22- The Bank of Japan kept policy steady on Wednesday despite concerns over recent volatility in bond market, saying growth is starting to pick up even as risks loomed from an uncertain global outlook. BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda will hold a news conference from 0630 GMT with his comments expected to come out any time after 0715 GMT.
*Gold still trading near 2- year lows. SINGAPORE, May 22- Gold edged higher on Wednesday due to strong Chinese demand and after Federal Reserve officials allayed investor concerns that the U.S. central bank will soon exit its bullion-friendly bond purchases.
TOKYO, May 22- The Bank of Japan on Wednesday decided to keep monetary policy on hold, but one board member tried unsuccessfully to loosen the central bank's commitment to achieving its 2 percent inflation target within two years.
TOKYO, May 22- Japanese government bonds edged up on Wednesday in line with a rise in U.S. bonds following dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials, but the Bank of Japan's looming policy meeting kept traders on edge.
TOKYO, May 22- The dollar hovered some way below last week's 4-1/ 2- year high against the Japanese currency, after being dampened by hints from two U.S.
*Nikkei rises 1.2 pct, Topix up 0.7 pct in active trade. *Sony jumps on report of assessing spin-off proposal.
SINGAPORE, May 22- London copper on Wednesday held below two week-highs hit the session before after Federal Reserve officials suggested the central bank would continue its bond-buying scheme. *Copper pushed to its highest since May 8 at $7,450 a tonne on Tuesday.
SINGAPORE, May 22- Gold edged higher on Wednesday, buoyed by a weaker dollar after Federal Reserve officials dampened expectations that the U.S. central bank may soon exit its bullion-friendly bond purchases.
TOKYO, May 22- The Bank of Japan may end up pursuing its massive monetary easing for up to five years before achieving inflation levels conducive to unwinding its aggressive stimulus, a Reuters poll of BOJ watchers suggests.
SYDNEY, May 22- Asian stocks rose on Wednesday following a positive lead from Wall Street with Japan's Nikkei reaching a 5-1/ 2 year high, while the yen took a defensive stance ahead of the outcome of the Bank of Japan's policy meeting. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.2 percent, reversing some of Tuesday's 0.4 percent decline.