Japan's largest securities brokerage by revenue also said a greater contribution from overseas business helped it to a net profit of 13.4 billion yen ($165 million) in the fiscal third quarter on net revenue of 295.6 billion yen.
The brokerage has ramped up its expansion overseas in a search for growth after its purchase of part of Lehman Brothers following the US bank's collapse in 2008, but has previously been hampered by tough market conditions.
Wednesday's earnings outshone a net profit of 1.1 billion yen posted in the previous quarter.
For the nine months to December, Nomura said net profit was at 16.8 billion yen, down 66 percent on-year.
Nomura shares closed 4.03 percent higher in Tokyo trade Wednesday ahead of the earnings release.