Inside View

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Nikon Corp. (7731) is on course to a handsome operating profit this fiscal year, despite taking a 25 billion yen hit from the Thai floods, now that it no longer relies solely on digital SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras.

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Improving U.S. indicators have buoyed investor sentiment, yet Japan's long-term interest rates remain relatively low, reminiscent of the lull prior to an upheaval nearly a decade ago.

TOKYO (Nikkei)--How certain are investors that a proposed consumption tax increase is going to happen? Not very, judging by yields on inflation-indexed government bonds.