Tokyo stocks seen opening down after US retreat

TOKYO, Oct 30 (Reuters) Tokyo shares are seen opening lower on Monday as a retreat in US stocks after data showing weak quarterly growth in the world's biggest economy could drag down exporters such as Honda Motor Co. Ltd., while Softbank Corp. may be sold after computer system problems.

Softbank, striving for a bigger share of a mobile phone that is becoming more open to competition, said on Sunday its computer systems crashed for a second time over the weekend as users sought to switch carriers.

Japan's industrial production data for September is due before the market opens. A Reuters poll of 30 economists produced a median forecast for a month-on-month fall of 1.0 percent, following a 1.8 percent rise in August.

Nikkei futures traded in Chicago pointed to a fall in the benchmark Nikkei average The Nikkei futures contract expiring in December closed at 16,525 in Chicago, a decline of 165 points from the Osaka close.

''Nikkei futures suggest a sharply lower opening here as the contract fell below 16,600,'' said Shinji Igarashi, equity manager at Chuo Securities.

''While we should keep an eye on the production data, a weak start could pour cold water on widespread optimism'' which has been fuelled by hopes for strong earnings, he said.

Market analysts said the Nikkei is likely to move between 16,500 and 16,700 on Monday.

On Friday it fell 0.85 percent to 16,669.07.

Earnings will continue to be in focus. Major companies to release their earnings results on Monday include Nippon Paper Group Inc., Itochu Corp., Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Nippon Oil Corp. and Kyocera Corp. T> Among major firms which announced earnings after the market closed on Friday, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.'s American depositary receipts (ADRs) finished Friday down 0.5 percent in yen terms from the previous close in Tokyo and those of Advantest Corp. closed down 1.1 percent in yen terms from Tokyo's close.

NTT DoCoMo Inc.'s ADRs fell 0.3 percent in yen terms and in adjusted per-share value from Tokyo's close.

Reuters DH VP0520