text: Nikkei Edges Up Before Machinery Data  TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average was up 0.34 percent by  midsession on Thursday as buyers went after companies with  solid earnings prospects such as Furukawa Electric Co. and  Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., while the dollar's recovery helped  auto makers.
inputs: Nikkei Edges Up Before Machinery Data  TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei average was up 0.34 percent by  midsession on Thursday as buyers went after companies with  solid earnings prospects such as Furukawa Electric Co. and  Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., while the dollar's recovery helped  auto makers.