For investors, the bleak profit outlook is a possible negative.

And this could improve the profit outlook of American companies that do business abroad.

And 44.8 percent of the publishers said they had lowered their profit outlook for next year.

By that measure, the profit outlook may not be so rosy after all.

The profit outlook for the first quarter of next year is also being reduced by Wall Street analysts.

He declined to discuss either the stock price or the company's profit outlook.

He added: "We continue to be very concerned about the profit outlook.

"You have the stock market reflecting the corporate profit outlook more than the long rates."

The company cut its profit outlook for the full year through March 43 percent, to 205 billion yen.

Large manufacturers also raised their sales and profit outlooks compared with the previous quarter.