Nikkei up 1 pct as Kyocera, exporters gain ground

TOKYO, May 14 (Reuters) The Nikkei average rose 0.96 percent on Monday, with high-tech exporters such as Kyocera Corp.

gaining ground following an advance in stocks in the United States, one of the biggest markets for Japanese goods.

The Nikkei could switch to a upward trend and try for the 18,000 level if Sony Corp.'s earnings and GDP data later in the week turn out to be positive, said Hiroyuki Fukunaga, chief strategist at Rakuten Securities.

Sony is to report its earnings results on Wednesday, and January-March gross domestic product data is due out on Thursday.

''Today's Nikkei shows how dependent Japanese stocks' moves are on overseas markets,'' Fukunaga said.

''But the overall market is still solid as stocks that were sold sharply on disappointing earnings results seem to be able to regain ground the following day.'' On Friday, Casio Computer Co. plunged more than 16 percent to 2,025 yen on a downbeat forecast and broker downgrades. The stock was down 0.3 percent at 2,020 yen as of 0030 GMT.

The Nikkei added 167.90 points to 17,721.62 as of 0030 GMT.

The broad TOPIX index gained 0.84 percent to 1,737.64.

Shares of generic drug makers Sawai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd and Towa Pharmaceutical Co Ltd. gained after the Nikkei daily reported on Sunday the Japanese government is considering cutting insurance coverage for branded medicine when a similar generic version is available.

Sawai Pharmaceutical was up 0.6 percent to 4,820 yen and Towa Pharmaceutical gained 4 percent to 4,730 yen.

Kyocera advanced 1 percent to 11,710 yen.

REUTERS PDS VP0700