Nissan Stock Rises 24% on News of Merger with Honda

Mitsubishi Motors Mentioned for Merger Participation Also Up 20%
Overall Rise in Auto Stocks... Honda Stock Down 3%

Bloomberg reported that Nissan's stock price surged 24% on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the 18th following news of a merger between Honda and Nissan, the second and third largest automakers in Japan.

This marks the largest increase in the past 50 years, driven by expectations that Nissan, which is undergoing large-scale restructuring due to management difficulties, will overcome its financial crisis by joining forces with Honda.

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On the same day, Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported that Honda and Nissan are in talks for a business integration. They are considering establishing a holding company under which both companies would be placed.

Julie Boot Pelham, Senior Analyst at Smithers Associates, said, "Considering that Nissan will be supported by a financially and operationally stronger partner, this is good news."

Mitsubishi Motors, which holds a 24% stake and is the largest shareholder of Nissan, is also rumored to potentially participate in the merger, and supported by this, Mitsubishi Motors' stock price closed up 19.55% that day.

Expectations that Nissan can overcome its management difficulties through this merger led to gains across the automotive sector, including Toyota Motor (2.02%), Subaru (1.96%), and Suzuki Motor (0.48%).

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On the other hand, Honda's stock price, which faces relatively greater burdens, closed down 3.04% that day. Tatsuo Yoshida, Senior Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, predicted that the merger would not bring short-term profits to Honda.