Japan's Leaders Ponder Long-Term Economic Impact of Earthquake

KOFU-SHI, JAPAN--March 14, 2011--Written by Gordon Murray, Managing Director of Industrial Info Resources East Asia (Kofu-shi, Japan)--The Japanese stock index (the Nikkei) dropped nearly 6% on Monday morning, as the nation continues to come to terms with the scale of the recent damage.

Stocks of manufacturers such as Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) (Tokyo) and Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) (Toyota City, Japan) dropped significantly (10% and 8%, respectively), as both companies have voluntarily suspended normal operations to help conserve energy and assist in electricity-rationing efforts made necessary because of the damaged electrical infrastructure.

Other companies that are voluntarily suspending operations include...