Tokyo stocks lifted by blue-chip exporters, Apple-related names

TOKYO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Japanese shares rose on Tuesday,
shrugging off signs of worsening confidence among big
manufacturers, with blue-chip exporters and Apple-related issues
leading the gains.
The benchmark Nikkei average .N225 rose 0.7% to 21,916.74
points by the midday break, while the broader Topix .TOPX
climbed 1.1% to 1,604.84, with all but one of its 33 subindexes
trading in positive territory.
Japanese big manufacturers' business confidence fell to a
six-year low in the July-September quarter, a central bank
survey showed, a sign the bitter U.S.-China trade war is taking
a heavier toll on the export-reliant economy. But some analysts said sentiment did not worse as much as
expected, and noted capital expenditure plans were holding up.
"The Tankan survey was positive, with the headline
manufacturing reading well above consensus and only slightly
down from three months ago," said John Vail, chief global
strategist at Nikko Asset Management.
"Overall, it is good news for risk markets that Japanese
companies are not pessimistic given all the external concerns,"
Vail said, noting that the outlook for both manufacturing and
non-manufacturing was in positive territory.
Blue-chip exporters rose, with Honda Motor 7267.T ,
Panasonic 6752.T and Bridgestone Corp 5108.T advancing 2.3%,
2.4% and 2.1%, respectively.
On Monday, Wall Street stocks rallied, with all three major
indexes rising, helped by gains in Apple Inc
AAPL.O . .N/C Apple rose 2.4% after chief executive Tim Cook
told a German daily that sales of its newest iPhones were off to
a strong start, while JPMorgan raised its forecast for shipment
volumes. Tokyo-listed Apple-related shares were also in demand on
Tuesday. Murata Manufacturing Co 6981.T , TDK Corp 6762.T and
Minebea Mitsumi 6479.T jumped 2.4%, 2.7% and 3.0%,
respectively.
By sector, paper and pulp .IPAPR.T , electric and gas
.IEPNG.T and rubber products .IRUBR.T were among the top
performers, up 2.7%, 2.3% and 2.2%, respectively.