Kirin shares slump

Shares in Lion Nathan's major shareholder, Kirin Brewery, fell as much as 2.8 per cent after a newspaper report said the Japan brewer would probably miss its first-half profit forecast. The Nihon Keizai newspaper said Kirin's operating profit might fall to 16 billion ($315.7 million) for the June six months, down 30 per cent compared with last year and 11 per cent short of forecast.