Japanese automaker Honda said Friday its net profit for the year to March soared 73.6 percent to $3.7 billion, thanks to robust overseas sales, a weaker yen, and cost cutting. The rosy bottom line figure underscores a recovery among the nation's major automakers after Japan's quake-tsunami disaster in 2011 devastated sales and production, and highlighted strong demand in the key Asian and US markets

India's import of crude oil from Iran slid by 27 percent in the last financial year as United States and European sanctions made it harder to ship fuel from the Islamic republic, a report said Wednesday. India imported 13.3 million tonnes of crude oil from Iran in the financial year ended March 31, down from 18.1 million tonnes shipped in the previous year, the Press Trust of India reported, quoting official sources.

Tokyo shares rose 1.29 percent to a near five-year high on Wednesday morning, supported by a solid performance on Wall Street and optimism over Japanese exporters' earnings thanks to the weaker yen. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 173.97 points at 13,703.62 by the break, topping 13,700 for the first time since June 2008. The Topix index of all first-section issues gained 0.79 percent, or 9.02 points, to 1,152.80.

Tokyo stocks closed down 0.29 percent Tuesday as a stronger yen hit sentiment despite a positive performance on Wall Street. The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 38.72 points to 13,529.65, while the Topix index of all first-section issues sank 0.16 percent, or 1.82 points, to 1,143.78. The dollar, which came within a whisker of the 100 yen mark Monday, fell back in Tokyo on Tuesday, despite last week's Group of 20 statement that cautiously backed Japan's huge stimulus measures aimed at kickstarting the economy.