Friday, March 16, 2007

Japan carmakers hurt by stronger yen

by Elaine Frei

Banks were lower in Tokyo on Friday and that, with a yen that was stronger versus the US dollar, sent equities markets lower on the session.  The Nikkei 225 dropped 0.7 percent to 16,744.15, while the Topix index fell 1 percent to 1,677.06.
The banking sector was down 2.5 percent as a whole.  Mizhuo Financial (TYO: [...]

Thursday, March 15, 2007

January/February industrial output up by 18.5 percent in China

by Elaine Frei

A large increase in industrial output in China has many analysts expecting that the nation will have to tighten its monetary policy soon in order to cool down the economy.  Factory output in January and February combined grew 18.5 percent compared to the same time last year, according to the nation’s National Bureau of Statistics.  [...]

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Tokyo real estate sector drops 5.6 percent

by Elaine Frei

The Tokyo equities markets joined the rest of Asia, and the rest of the world, in declines on Wednesday.  The Nikkei 225 fell 2.9 percent to 16,676.89, while the Topix index also dropped 2.9 percent on the session, to 1,674.94.
Export-focused sectors were lower on earlier strengthening of the yen.  The automobile manufacturing sector was down [...]

China inflation up on higher food prices

by Elaine Frei

Higher prices on food sent consumer prices up 2.7 percent in China in February, according to the official statistical arm of the government there.  The rise came after a gain of 2.2 percent in January.  Analysts said that the rise in food prices, were likely driven by global conditions and were consequently something that China [...]

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Tokyo Stock Exchange decides not to delist broker

by Elaine Frei

The Tokyo equities markets were lower on Tuesday as the yen strengthened and investors chose to take profits in sectors such as real estate and steel.  The Nikkei 225 dropped 0.7 percent to 17,178.84, while the Topix index was 0.9 percent lower to 1,725.43.  The declines came amid wide declines in other Asian markets.
Export-focused sectors [...]

Monday, March 12, 2007

KDDI up on fibre-optics announcement

by Elaine Frei

The Tokyo equities markets were higher on Monday as the yen weakened against the US dollar.  The Nikkei 225 added 0.8 percent to 17,292.39, while the Topix index was 0.6 percent higher to 1,741.36.
The real estate sector gained 1.8 percent as whole as it made progress in recovering from earlier losses.  Mitsui Fudosan (TYO: 8801; [...]

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Tokyo electronics sector up on broker comments

by Elaine Frei

While the Tokyo equities markets were substantially higher on Thursday, analysts stopped short of saying that the markets are back to normal trading after recent steep declines on global markets.  The Nikkei 225 and the Topix index each added 1.9 percent on the session, to 17,090.31 and 1,720.96 respectively.
The oil sector saw gains based on [...]

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Tokyo markets drop on US concerns

by Elaine Frei

Equities markets in Tokyo were lower on Wednesday as investors worried over the state of the US economy.  The Nikkei 225 dropped 0.5 percent to 16,764.62, while the Topix index fell 0.2 percent to 1,689.60.  The Mothers market of small and mid-caps was 1.2 percent lower to 1,036.58.
Export-focused stocks, which are generally more affected when [...]

China cracks down on “virtual money”

by Elaine Frei

China has instituted new restrictions on the use of “virtual money” earned or won playing internet games.  A notice was issued in February that calls for “strict differentiation” between virtual commerce and online commerce in actual, material products.  Under the rules, virtual money can only be used to purchase virtual products and services provided by [...]

Monday, March 5, 2007

Softbank down 6.4 percent in Tokyo

by Elaine Frei

Stock market declines continued in Japan on Monday, with the Nikkei 225 down 3.3 percent to 16,642.25, beginning with a drop of over 340 points in the first fifteen minutes of the session and ending up 575.68 points lower on the session.  The Topix index was also lower, falling 3.4 percent to 1,662.71.  The Mothers [...]

China to spend 18 percent more on military in 2007

by Elaine Frei

A spokesman for China’s National People’s Congress said on Sunday that the country will increase its spending on defense by almost 18 percent from last year to Rmb350.9 billion ($45.3 billion, £23.3 billion, €34.4 billion).  This is the largest yearly increase in a number of years and will amount to about 7.5 percent of China’s [...]

Friday, March 2, 2007

Reports put Japan economic recovery in question

by Elaine Frei

New data shows that inflation in Japan fell to zero in January when measured by core consumer prices, which excludes the price of energy.  It was the 13th consecutive month of decline for the CPI.  Core inflation was at 0.1 percent in December.  Even when energy prices are included, it is thought that inflation could [...]