Kyodo news summary -3-

(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TOKYO, March 18 -- (Kyodo) _ ---------- Malaysian police rescue kidnapped Japanese man KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian police have rescued a Japanese man who had been kidnapped and held for ransom for several days, after being lured to Malaysia to marry a woman he met over the Internet, a police official said Monday.

Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department chief Ku Chin Wah told Kyodo News the victim was rescued unhurt in a police raid Saturday night on a condominium in Kajang, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

---------- Abe reiterates promise to protect farming in TPP talks TOKYO - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday reiterated his pledge to protect Japan's agricultural sector after announcing the country's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations late last week.

While the free trade framework is expected to deal a heavy blow to Japanese farmers through an influx of cheap foreign imports, Abe promised at the Diet's budget committee meeting on the TPP to protect the country's farming and food.

---------- Japan conveys concern to France over chopper device sale to China TOKYO - Japan has expressed concern to France about a French firm's sale to China of a device to facilitate landing by ship-based helicopters, a government spokesman said Monday amid a simmering territorial dispute between Tokyo and Beijing.

"We expressed our concerns...(and) conveyed our thoughts" to the French government through diplomatic channels, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters, while declining to comment in detail.

---------- Dollar falls to upper 94 yen in morning on Cyprus turmoil TOKYO - The U.S. dollar skidded to the upper 94 yen level Monday morning in Tokyo as investors fled to the safe-haven Japanese currency after the Cyprus bailout plan renewed worries over the eurozone.

At noon, the dollar fetched 94.67-72 yen compared with 95.20-30 yen in New York and 96.04-05 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.

---------- Japan's key bond yield falls in morning TOKYO - The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell Monday morning as the perceived safe-haven attracted buying amid renewed concerns over the eurozone debt crisis.

The yield on the No. 328, 0.6 percent issue, the main yardstick of long-term interest rates, ended morning interdealer trading at 0.590 percent, down 0.025 percentage point from Friday's close.

---------- Tokyo stocks fall sharply in morning amid Cyprus woes TOKYO - Tokyo stocks fell sharply Monday morning on declines in exporters due to the yen's advance and reignited eurozone debt fears amid uncertainty over the bailout plan for Cyprus.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 263.88 points, or 2.10 percent, from Friday to 12,297.07. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 17.94 points, or 1.71 percent, to 1,033.71.

---------- Sony completes $1.1 billion sale of U.S. headquarters building TOKYO - Sony Corp. said Monday it has completed the sale of its U.S. headquarters building in New York for around $1.1 billion (104 billion yen) as planned to improve its financial profile.

The skyscraper on Manhattan's Madison Avenue, housing the head office of Sony Corp. of America and group companies, was sold to a consortium of investors led by the Chetrit Group.

---------- Honda eyes Formula One return TOKYO - Honda Motor Co. is considering resuming business related to Formula One automobile racing, a person familiar with the plan said Monday.

The Japanese automaker plans to take part in the competition by providing new engines around 2015, the source said.

---------- Sharp says 2nd Qualcomm payment will miss deadline OSAKA - Sharp Corp. said Monday it will not be able to receive the second half of a 9.9 billion yen investment from Qualcomm Inc. by the March 29 deadline due to a delay in their joint development of new display panels.

The struggling Japanese electronics maker said in a statement that the company "intends to continue its discussions with Qualcomm" and make an announcement when discussions are concluded.

(c) 2013 Kyodo News International, Inc.

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