Nomura Holdings Inc. returned to the black last quarter after selling a restaurant chain, but it may not be enough to reassure investors it can sustain an earnings rebound.

Japan's biggest securities firm Wednesday posted net income of ¥17.8 billion for the three months that ended Dec. 31, even as brokerage commissions, investment banking fees and trading profit fell. That followed a ¥46.1 billion net loss in the previous quarter.

Chief Financial Officer Junko Nakagawa said the company has no plans to deepen its ¥91 billion cost-cutting plan after trimming staff in the quarter.