Monday, July 31, 2006

Topix index rises 0.8 percent in Tokyo

by Brian Turner

Both the Nikkei 225 and the Topix index saw gains in Tokyo on Monday. The Nikkei added 0.7 percent to 15,456.81, while the Topix was up 0.8 percent to 1,572.01. Both domestic and export-focused sectors saw gains.
Not every sector was up, however. With chances of consolidation in the paper sector decreasing, Oji [...]

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Tokyo equities markets down

by Brian Turner

Lower than expected profits reports from consumer finance companies sent Tokyo equities markets lower on Wednesday. The Nikkei 225 was 0.8 percent lower to 14,884.07, while the Topix index was down by 0.9 percent to 1,520.44
Consumer finance was not the only sector with losses, however. The electronics sector was down, with NEC falling [...]

Monday, July 24, 2006

Tech stocks lower in Tokyo

by Brian Turner

Equities markets in Tokyo were slightly lower on Monday on declines in the securities and steel sectors. Semiconductors were down as well, while electronics were mixed and paper and pulp saw increases during the day. The Nikkei 225 fell 0.2 percent to 14,794.5, while the Topix index was down 0.1 percent to 1,514.22.
The [...]

Thursday, July 20, 2006

JAL gains 6.8 percent on session in Tokyo

by Brian Turner

The Tokyo equities markets saw big gains on Thursday, mostly after comments out of the United States that US inflation would likely not continue to rise. The Nikkei 225 added 3.1 percent to 14,946.84, while the Topix index was up 3.6 percent to 1,528.59. Meanwhile, the Mother’s index of small and mid-caps gained [...]

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Airlines sector sees losses in Tokyo

by Brian Turner

In Tokyo on Wednesday the Nikkei 225 added 0.4 percent to 14,500.26, while the Topix index closed flat at 1,475.42. While export-focused sectors seemed to find gains, domestic stocks were more likely to be losers for the day.
The steel sector was higher. While JFE ended the day where it started, at ¥4,480, Japan [...]

Friday, July 14, 2006

Bank of Japan in unanimous vote ot raise interest rates

by Brian Turner

The Bank of Japan met the expectations of most analysts, voting unanimously to raise interest rates above zero for the first time in six years. The unsecured overnight call rate went from zero to 0.25 percent, while the official discount rate rose from 0.10 percent to 0.40 percent.
Along with the rate hikes, the Bank [...]

Topix indes drops 1.9 percent

by Brian Turner

Equities markets were down in Tokyo on Friday as investors in export-focused stocks worried that new rises in crude oil prices would dampen consumer demand in the United States. The decision by the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates for the first time in six years seemed not to have much of an [...]

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Equities markets down in most of Asia

by Brian Turner

Most Asian equities markets saw substantial losses on Thursday. The exception was Manila’s composite index, which added 1.3 percent to 2,261.57.
The Shanghai composite index in China, by contrast, dropped 4.8 percent to 1,655.8 on the news that China’s largest bank, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, and Daqin Railways both plan to float initial [...]

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Corporate earnings worry Asian investors

by Brian Turner

The train bombings in Mumbai seemed not to have had much effect on Indian equities markets, at least in the short term, after the nation’s finance minister said that the bombings would not harm the economy there. The BSE Sensex index was up 3 percent Wednesday to 10,930.09.
Elsewhere in Asia, however, some equities markets [...]

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Topix index declines by 0.5 percent

by Brian Turner

Technology stocks helped send the Tokyo equities markets lower on Tuesday. The Nikkei 225 and the Topix index each lost 0.5 percent on the session, to 15,473.82 and 1,585.85 respectively.
The electronics sector was down on a strong yen and on declines in tech stocks in New York overnight. Sony dropped 0.2 percent to [...]

Monday, July 10, 2006

Nikkei 225 gains 1.6 percent

by Brian Turner

Equities markets in Tokyo were up substantially on Monday, with the Nikkei 225 up 1.6 percent to 15,552.81 and the Topix index 1.3 percent higher to 1,594.07.
In the technology sector, chip-making and testing equipment companies saw gains. Advantest was up 2.7 percent to ¥12,130, while Tokyo Electron gained 3.3 percent to ¥8,250.
Electronics companies were [...]

Wednesday, July 5, 2006

Nikkei 225 drops 0.7 percent

by Brian Turner

The Tokyo equities markets were down on Wednesday after it was revealed that North Korea had test fired several missiles, but declines were moderate. Some analysts attributed the muted reaction to the tests to the relative strength of the markets, especially after Monday’s strong Tankan report and low unemployment figures from last week. [...]

Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Consumer electronics gain in Japan

by Brian Turner

The Tokyo equities markets were up on Tuesday as concerns that the US will raise interest rates again soon retreated. Export-reliant stocks did better than domestic stocks even though new data has supported the idea that the Japanese economy continues to recover. The Nikkei 225 added 0.4 percent to 15,638.50, while the Topix [...]

Monday, July 3, 2006

Tokyo equities markets advance

by Brian Turner

The Tokyo equities markets were up slightly on Monday after a new Tankan survey from the Bank of Japan showed that large companies are planning much larger levels of capital spending than they said they were in the last survey. The new numbers show that businesses are confident that the Japanese economic recovery will [...]