Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Topix suspends trade for 15 minutes in Tokyo

by Elaine Frei

The Tokyo equities markets were much lower on Wednesday.  The Nikkei 225 dropped 515 points, or 2.85 percent, to close at 17,604, while the Topix index fell 3.23 percent to 1,752.74.  At one point during the session, every stock listed on the Nikkei was in negative territory, but a few were able to make it [...]

Monday, February 26, 2007

Tokyo electronics sector mixed on session

by Elaine Frei

In Tokyo on Monday, both the Nikkei 225 and the Topix index reached multi-year closing highs.  The Topix was at a 15-year closing high as it added 0.1 percent to 1,816.97, while the Nikkei gained 0.2 percent to 18,215.35, its highest close in nearly seven years.  The small and mid-cap Mothers market, however, reversed recent [...]

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Tokyo financial sectors higher on rate hike

by Elaine Frei

In Tokyo on Thursday, the Nikkei 225 closed 1.1 percent higher to 18,108.79, the first time the index has ended a session above the 18,000 level in nearly seven years.  The Topix index added 0.9 percent to 1,802.90, while the Mother’s index gained 4 percent to 1,162.25.  The gains came as investors reacted to Wednesday’s [...]

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Bank of Japan hikes interest rate

by Elaine Frei

The Bank of Japan voted on Wednesday to raise the interest rate there to 0.5 percent, using as its justification strong figures on economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2006.  That data showed that the gross domestic product was up by 4.8 percent on an annualized basis in the quarter.  The vote for the [...]

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

In Vietnam, it seems that everyone is an investor

by Elaine Frei

Participation in Vietnam’s stock market is reaching epic proportions as just about anyone with the extra cash to buy stocks is doing so in an effort to cash in on the market’s gains.  The country’s main stock index has risen by 249 percent in just over a year.  But investors are buying unlisted shares, as [...]

Investors await Bank of Japan decision

by Elaine Frei

As the Bank of Japan began its two days of meetings ahead of announcing a new decision on interest rates, the Nikkei 225 closed even Tuesday at 17,939.12, while the Topix index added 0.2 percent to 1,782.73.  Investors remained cautious ahead of the Bank’s announcement, scheduled for Wednesday, while analysts were divided over whether rate [...]

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Tokyo consumer finance sector declines on profits warning

by Elaine Frei

Retail sectors advanced in Tokyo on Thursday after new gross domestic product figures showed that the Japanese economy grew at an annualized rate of 4.8 percent in the last quarter of 2006, above expectations of 3.8 percent growth for the quarter.  It is widely expected that the Bank of Japan will use the new report [...]

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Quick property investor

by Brian Turner

As the UK housing market has grown in momentum, so has the number of property investors looking to buy into the record levels of property inflation.
A key tactic being used to increase their portfolios is to offer cash for homes, which allows the homeowner to sell house quick, avoiding the usualy delays of chain buying [...]

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Nikkei, Topix gain on session

by Elaine Frei

After taking Monday off for a holiday, the Tokyo equities markets gained ground on Tuesday.  Most of the advances came in domestic sectors after indications that Japan’s economic recovery is proceeding as scheduled.  The Nikkei 225 added 0.67 percent to 17,621.45, while the Topix index gained 0.62 percent to 1,755.90.
The real estate sector gained on [...]

Friday, February 9, 2007

Regulatory scandal hits Chinese drug industry

by Elaine Frei

It was announced Friday that China is undertaking a wide review of its drug industry after a former regulator was accused of taking bribes in return for approving the marketing of shoddy and counterfeit drugs that were blamed for a number of deaths.  The former director of the State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, [...]

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Telecoms higher in Tokyo

by Elaine Frei

Sell-offs in the shipping sector prevented the Tokyo equities markets from advancing on Thursday.  The Nikkei 225 closed even at 17,292.48, while the Topix index closed 0.5 percent lower to 1,720.18.  The Nikkei was prevent from dropping mainly by export-focused sectors which saw gains due to weakness in the yen.
The shipping sector fell 5.1 percent [...]

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

China blames Western nations for global warming

by Elaine Frei

A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry has made comments blaming developed nations for global warming and said that those nations are responsible for cutting emissions.  The remarks come in the wake of a report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change last week that said the evidence that human activity in causing global [...]

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Tokyo carmakers higher on session

by Elaine Frei

The Tokyo equities markets bounced back from Monday’s sell-offs to end the session higher on Tuesday.  The Nikkei 225 closed up 0.4 percent to 17,406.86, while the Topix index was 0.9 percent higher to 1,732.42.
As the yen weakened late in the day, export-focused stocks saw gains.  In the automobile manufacturing sector, Nissan Motor added 0.3 [...]

Monday, February 5, 2007

Electronics sector declines in Tokyo

by Elaine Frei

A stronger yen and declines in export-focused shares send the Tokyo equities markets lower on Monday.  The Nikkei 225 dropped 1.1 percent to 17,244.80, while the Topix index was 1.5 percent lower to 1,716.28.
The automobile manufacturing sector was hurt not only by the strengthening yen but also by Nissan Motor’s quarterly report, which showed net [...]

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Chip-related companies see losses in Tokyo

by Elaine Frei

Despite mixed earnings reports, the Tokyo equities markets were up Thursday.  The Nikkei 225 added 0.8 percent to 17,519.50, while the Topix index gained 1 percent to 1,738.58.
The advances came even though scandal-ridden Nikko Cordial dropped a further 15.5 percent to ¥1,000 on investor concerns that it could be delisted in consequence of its accounting [...]