Capcom shares hit five-year high

Capcom, developer and publisher of the Resident Evil franchise, today saw its shares hit a five-year high, closing at 2,855 yen (approx $25) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Bloomberg reports that this was the highest close for the company since September 26, 2002, and that the climb was due to "expectation sales," meaning the assumption that upcoming Capcom Wii games will boost earnings. Capcom expects annual sales to rise 11 percent after doubling the number of its Wii titles to six.

The Osaka-based company's stock has risen 14 percent in the last two days alone, totalling a 33 percent gain in the last year, compared to an 8.8 percent decline in the benchmark Topix index.

Capcom was founded in 1979 and has published franchises including the Resident Evil (Biohazard in Japan), Devil May Cry, and Phoenix Wright series, along with critically acclaimed titles, including Okami, from its now defunct Clover Studio.