The deal being finalized will also have Mukesh Assomull, of La Jolla,California, USA, taking a 25% interest of Watumull Group Companies andbecoming its second largest shareholder, the Indian firm said in a statement. SOURCEWatumull PropertiesGulu Watumull of Watumull Properties, +1-619-411-1118. * Exporters gain on U.S. consumer confidence data jump Stocks  |  Japan  |  North Korea * Market takes large fall in Japan exports in stride * Industrial production data on Friday eyed By Shinichi Saoshiro TOKYO, May 27 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei stock average gained1.5 percent on Wednesday after U.S. consumer confidence put inits biggest monthly jump in six years, boosting hopes ofimprovement in the U.S and the global economy.

Exporters such consumer electronics maker Panasonic (6752.T)and Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), which have been hurt badly by theslump in U.S. demand for Japanese goods, advanced, while chipstocks also jumped on a climb in the Philadelphia SemiconductorIndex .SOXX. The Conference Board, an industry group, said on Tuesday itsindex of consumer attitudes jumped to 54.9 in May from a revised40.8 in April, well above forecasts centered around 42.0, helpingpush U.S stocks more than 2 percent higher. [.N] [ID:nN26489555] “Stocks are responding positively to yesterday’s gains bytheir U.S. peers while taking in stride the significant fall inexports, which was well anticipated,” said Takahiko Murai, ageneral manager of equities at Nozomi Securities. Data released on Wednesday showed Japan’s exports fell 39.1percent in April from a year earlier, though at a slower pacethan in March or forecast by economists.

[JPEXPY=ECI] The benchmark Nikkei .N225 rose 135.99 points to 9,446.80after touching 9,463.14 The broader Topixclimbed 1.2percent to 894.14. Analysts said the stock market was also lifted by prospectsof investor money flowing in for domestic mutual fund launches. But the Nikkei’s upside was capped as potentially negativefactors continued to linger in the background U.S. carmaker General Motors GM.N faces a June 1 deadlineto work out issues with its creditors if it wants to avoid abankruptcy filing. The market is also keeping an eye on geopolitical risks afterNorth Korea conducted nuclear experiments and test fired missilesthis week, although the Nikkei has held up well despite NorthKorea’s actions. “The Nikkei’s rise today can be attributed for the most partto the rally in the U.S stock market. There is also a dearth ofpositive short-term domestic factors which is preventing theindex from topping 9,500,” said Masayoshi Okamoto, head ofdealing at Jujiya Securities.

“Fresh incentives from the domestic front may be needed for abreak above 9,500. Friday’s industrial production data is beingawaited for fresh hints of an economic recovery.” Japan’s industrial output likely rose for the second straightmonth in April, a Reuters poll showed, as manufacturers ramped upproduction after working down inventories. [ID:nT137981] Panasonic rose climbed 1.4 percent to 1,342 yen and Toyotaadvanced 2.2 percent to 3,680 yen. Chip and chip equipment stocks were among the biggest Nikkei225 percentage gainers after the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index.SOXX climbed 3.7 percent. Advantest Corp (6857.T) surged 4.1 percent to 1,687 yen,Tokyo Electron jumped 3.6 percent to 4,380 yen and Nikon (7731.T)rose 4.2 percent to 1,405 yen.

Nikon Corp said on Tuesday it would restructure itsloss-making stepper business at home and abroad, cutting 1,000jobs and putting its chase for new growth on hold as revenueshrinks. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp (4188.T) rose 3.2 percentto 418 yen after the Nikkei business daily said its MitsubishiChemical Corp unit plans to scrap its nylon resin business,winding down output of base material and products in three years[ID:nBNG492644] (Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) Stocks Japan North Korea. SEOUL, May 27 (Reuters) – State-run Korea National Oil Corp(KNOC) said on Wednesday it has raised $270 million for overseasoil exploration projects by issuing three-year floating ratenotes. The notes were priced to yield 340 basis points over thethree-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), KNOC said in astatement. The joint lead managers on the 3-year notes were eightbanks including DBS Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, WestLB, Australiaand New Zealand Banking Group, Calyon, Chinatrust CommercialBank, Natixis and Mega International Commercial Bank. Earlier in the year, the firm secured $470 billion to pay offits share of Petro-Tech, a privately-held U.S.