TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese automakers, electronics firms and oil refiners shut key factories after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the northeast coast, underscoring the challenge facing the government as it rushes to limit the economic blow.
Electronics giant Sony Corp has suspended operations at eight factories including one making optical film that was flooded by the tsunami triggered by Friday's 8.9-magnitude quake. Nissan Motor halted output at all four of its domestic assembly factories and said restarting them could depend on whether it can get parts.
These are just two in a long list of companies unsure of how quickly they can get their plants back up and running. The widespread damage to infrastructure as well as power rationing after an accident at a nuclear plant could also hamper efforts to resume shipments, even if factory equipment is intact.
Experts say Japan's economy will suffer only a temporary setback from the quake and could bounce back around April when spending on the rebuilding efforts starts to kick in.
But major technology and auto exporters are expected to be among the hardest hit shares when financial markets open on Monday, reflecting worries over the potential disruption to output and downward pressure on profits over the short-term. Construction firms, which will benefit from the rebuilding, are set to gain.
"We are worried about the infrastructure -- roads, trains, buses, trucks. Not only are the things that get produced going to be delayed but the materials you need to get them produced are going to be delayed. It's going to bump everything a quarter or two," Brian Heywood, CEO of Taiyo Pacific Partners, which has $2 billion invested Japanese shares. "Everyone is going to miss their numbers in the short-term."
Japan's beleaguered government is struggling to respond to what has developed into the country's biggest crisis since World War 2. More than 10,000 people may have been killed, almost 2 million people are still without power and another 1.4 million without running water, media said.
Leaders are pushing for an emergency budget for relief and reconstruction but the outlay will likely be constrained by the country's huge public debt, currently about 200 percent of the $5 trillion economy and growing. Japan spent about 3 trillion yen after the Kobe earthquake of 1995, which caused about $100 billion in damage.
The Bank of Japan is expected to pledge on Monday to supply as much money as needed to prevent the disaster from destabilizing markets and its banking system. It is also expected to signal its readiness to ease its already ultra-easy monetary policy further.
"Some investors might rush to sell Japanese shares from tomorrow, but investors are also closely watching how quickly and firmly Japan can react to a crisis like this," said Shinichi Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Credit Suisse Securities.
"For the Japanese government to show strong leadership is absolutely necessary to regain investors' confidence in its economy and market, especially when the global economy is on track for a recovery led the U.S."
BIG RISKS
Toyota Motor Co, the world's largest automaker, has halted production at all 12 of its domestic factories in Japan and has not been able to inspect those in the affected area.
Panasonic Corp said continuing aftershocks were preventing it from inspecting two factories in northern Japan, one making electronic parts and another digital cameras and audio equipment. It said a lack of proper power and water supply was a potential bottleneck.
Securing a stable power supply relatively cheaply could prove to be a major hurdle for companies, analysts said.
Tokyo Electric Power, which is fighting to avert a meltdown at its Fukushima plant, said it would curtail supply through at least April, including two large firms.
A fire near a Cosmo Oil refinery which had not been extinguished by Sunday is another concern.
"I would say the biggest risk is power," said SocGen.
Another risk is the potential strengthening of the yen, which is already hovering near a 16-year high against the dollar, threatening the profits of exporters, one of the key pillars of the Japanese economy.
The yen rose significantly in the wake of the Kobe earthquake as corporations repatriated funds to cope with the disaster.
"The yen could have a ripple effect," Taiyo Pacific's Heywood said. "A strengthening yen could put untimely and unneeded financial pressure on companies that are heavily dependent on overseas sales."
(Created by Nathan Layne)
