Thursday, March 30, 2006

Nikkei finds 5-year peak

by Brian Turner

In Tokyo on Thursday, the Nikkei closed above the 17,000 level for the first time in over five years, ending the session up 0.6 percent to 17,045.34. The Topix index was up as well, by 0.9 percent to 1,726.68. Banking and export companies accounted for most of the upward movement.
Real estate saw gains [...]

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Tokyo markets rise on real estate

by Brian Turner

Equity markets in Tokyo were up on Wednesday as the yen weakened but confidence in Japan’s economic recovery strengthened. The Nikkei 225 closed out the day up by 1.5 percent to 16,938.41, its highest ending level in five years, while the Topix index added 1.1 percent to end the session at 1,711.54.
The real estate [...]

Monday, March 27, 2006

Higher domestic oil product prices in China

by Brian Turner

China announced Sunday that it has raised prices for its domestic oil products to make up losses created by the difference in prices between crude oil and oil products. China’s refineries lost a reported Rmb30 billion last year, and the lack of enthusiasm on the part of refiners to supply the domestic market due [...]

Yen gains on sale of foreign bonds

by Brian Turner

The Japanese yen gained in value on Monday on new data showing that Japanese investors sold off foreign assets during the week ending March 17 at a rate six times higher than they had the previous week. This trend seemed to be continuing as the end of the fiscal year approaches. The sales [...]

Tokyo markets higher on real estate

by Brian Turner

The Tokyo equities markets saw gains on Monday, with the Nikkei 225 up 0.5 percent to 16,650.10 and the Topix index 0.3 percent higher at the close to 1,693.84.
The real estate sector gained 1.1 percent as a whole, building on Friday’s gains after the release of a new survey on land prices in Japan. [...]

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Tokyo markets lower as securities, chipmakers decline

by Brian Turner

The Tokyo equities markets were down on Wednesday as investors took profits. The Nikkei 225 ended the day down by 0.8 percent to 16,495.48, while the Topix index was down 0.1 percent to 1,686.35.
The semiconductor sector was down on the day after Microsoft announced that it is putting off the release of its new [...]

Monday, March 20, 2006

Yen declines on several factors

by Brian Turner

The Japanese yen lost value against major currencies on Monday after having made gains early in the session. The decline was blamed on technical factors and on the fact that Japanese importers had engaged in significant selling of yen and purchase of US dollars ahead of a public holiday. Also a possible factor [...]

Friday, March 17, 2006

Tokyo markets rise on eased interest rate concerns

by Brian Turner

Tokyo equities markets saw gains on Friday after Bank of Japan’s governor made remarks on Thursday that led investors to believe that interest rates would not rise soon nor sharply. His comments helped soothe fears that real estate would see losses if rates rose rapidly.
The Nikkei 225 was up 1.5 percent to 16,339.73 and [...]

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Tokyo markets down on interest rate concerns

by Brian Turner

Japanese equities markets declined significantly on Thursday on a plunging real estate sector, as concerns about the possibility of interest rate hikes worried some investors even while some analysts said the concerns were misplaced.
The Nikkei 225 fell 1.4 percent to 16,096.21, while the Topix index declined by 1.3 percent to 1,645.06.
The real estate sector dropped [...]

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Tokyo markets down on domestic sectors

by Brian Turner

The Tokyo equities markets were down on Tuesday as domestically-oriented stocks could not sustain the gains they achieved on Monday. The Nikkei 225 ended the day down by 0.8 percent to 16,238.36, while the Topix index dropped 0.5 percent to 1,665.79.
Retail was down 0.6 percent in the sector with Seven & I down 1.3 [...]

Monday, March 13, 2006

Tokyo exporters, domestics rise on optimism

by Brian Turner

Tokyo’s equities markets were up on Monday as optimism about the economy sent shares in both export-dependent and domestic sectors higher on the day. The Nikkei 225 closed at 16,391.51, 1.5 percent higher and its highest close in over a month. The Topix index gained 1.7 percent to close at 1.674.66.
Among domestics, the [...]

Friday, March 10, 2006

Tokyo markets higher to end week

by Brian Turner

Japanese equities markets were up on Friday, with the Nikkei 225 gaining 0.5 percent to 16,115.63 and the Topix index adding 0.4 percent to 1,647.27, with gains in both domestic and export-dependent sectors. Analysts did not attribute the gains directly to Thursday’s decision by the Bank of Japan to tighten monetary policy, but said [...]

Thursday, March 9, 2006

Monetary policy decision unsettles yen

by Brian Turner

After a rise directly after an announcement from the Bank of Japan that it was tightening its monetary policy, the Japanese yen was flat to weaker on the day as analysts arrived at an interpretation of the Bank’s move that expects policy to remain accommodative for some time to come.
The yen’s first response to the [...]

Bank of Japan ends loose money policy

by Brian Turner

As predicted by some analysts, The Bank of Japan decided on Thursday to end its five-year ultra-loose monetary policy, exchanging it for a policy of targeting the overnight call rate. The Bank said, in announcing its decision, that the economy has exited deflation and returned to normal with no danger of returning to deflation. [...]

Wednesday, March 8, 2006

Monetary policy jitters send Tokyo markets lower

by Brian Turner

Tokyo equities markets were down again on Wednesday as uncertainty continued ahead of an announcement due Thursday from the Bank of Japan on whether or not it will tighten monetary policy. Analysts believe that policy will be tightened, but are divided on whether the process will begin immediately or not until April.
The Nikkei 225 [...]

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Tokyo markets fall on domestic, export declines

by Brian Turner

Equities markets in Tokyo were down on Tuesday on a general weakness in shares in both domestically focused and export-dependent sectors, as well as on uneasiness ahead of any announcement from the Bank of Japan‘s meeting on Thursday. The Nikkei 225 closed down by 1.1 percent to 15,726.02, while the Topix index dropped 0.5 [...]

Monday, March 6, 2006

Yen falls on several factors

by Brian Turner

Several factors combined on Monday to cause the Japanese yen to decline in value even though some analysts expect the Bank of Japan to begin tightening its monetary policy as soon as this week, although most expect that any move will not come until April. Those factors included data showing that short yen position [...]

Saturday, March 4, 2006

CPI data sends Tokyo markets lower

by Brian Turner

Both domestic and export-oriented stocks declined on Friday in Tokyo in response to the release of data showing that consumer prices, and therefore inflation, was stronger than had been forecast in January. The Nikkei 225 lost 1.5 percent to 15,663.34, while the Topix index closed 1.2 percent lower at 1,612.96.
The real estate sector dropped [...]

Friday, March 3, 2006

Policy change more likely on new Japanese data

by Brian Turner

The core consumer price index in Japan gained 0.5 percent in January, just a bit more than had been expected. It was the third month in a row that the core CPI, which excludes fresh food, increased, and represented the reading’s highest level in eight years. The advance led some analysts to expect [...]

Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Nikkei, Topix down on day

by Brian Turner

Equities markets in Tokyo were down significantly on Wednesday as both export-focused and domestic sectors saw declines on the day. The Nikkei 225 was down 1.5 percent to 15,964.46, while the Topix index also dropped 1.5 percent, to 1,635.60.
Among companies that depend on exports, Sony declined by 1.6 percent to ¥5,440 and high-tech manufacturer [...]

Next Page »