Stocks of Japanese beer force, Asahi Breweries Ltd, up 2.69 % at 917 yen after Goldman Sachs said on October 21 evening it had raised a rating on the company to "outperform" from "underperform". Goldman said the earnings outlook for Japan's top beer maker has improved as the impact of the coolest summer in a decade has subsided and the stock has been undervalued despite a potential for higher profits.

Kirin Brewery Co Ltd also up 1.11 percent at 909, after being upgraded to "outperform" from "inline".

24 October, 2003