logo
Tokyo stocks drop as investors lock in gains ahead of key events

Tokyo stocks drop as investors lock in gains ahead of key events

The Mainichi6 days ago
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks dropped Tuesday morning as investors continued to lock in gains following last week's steep rise, amid a reluctance to buy shares before a U.S. monetary policy meeting and other key events.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 374.95 points, or 0.91 percent, from Monday to 40,623.32. The broader Topix index was down 27.78 points, or 0.95 percent, at 2,902.95.
The U.S. dollar traded without clear direction mostly in the upper 148 yen range in Tokyo amid a lack of new incentives, dealers said.
At noon, the dollar fetched 148.34-35 yen compared with 148.49-59 yen in New York and 148.28-30 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Monday.
The euro was quoted at $1.1596-1599 and 172.02-07 yen against $1.1581-1591 and 172.08-18 yen in New York and $1.1674-1675 and 173.11-15 yen in Tokyo late Monday afternoon.
Stocks continued to face selling pressure after the Nikkei jumped last week on a Japan-U.S. trade agreement, with investors awaiting policy meetings of the U.S. and Japanese central banks.
The market was also weighed down by a decline of the U.S. Dow Jones index overnight on caution over U.S.-China trade talks and ahead of earnings reports from some U.S. tech giants this week.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tokyo stocks drop on concerns over US economy after weak jobs data
Tokyo stocks drop on concerns over US economy after weak jobs data

The Mainichi

time12 minutes ago

  • The Mainichi

Tokyo stocks drop on concerns over US economy after weak jobs data

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks fell Monday, with the Nikkei index briefly diving over 2 percent, fueled by concerns over a U.S. economic slowdown following weaker-than-expected jobs data. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 508.90 points, or 1.25 percent, from Friday at 40,290.70. The broader Topix index finished 32.45 points, or 1.10 percent, lower at 2,916.20. On the top-tier Prime Market, main decliners were led by bank, mining and service issues. The U.S. dollar briefly declined to around the 147 yen line in early morning trading after weakening sharply in New York on Friday after U.S. employment data for July showed a slowdown in the labor market, fueling speculation that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates soon. But the U.S. currency later rose to the upper 147 yen zone in Tokyo, as it was bought back amid a rise in U.S. Treasury yields, dealers said. The Nikkei stock index briefly slipped below the 40,000 threshold for the first time in about two weeks, as an increase in U.S. nonfarm payrolls fell short of market expectations, while the figures in May and June were revised sharply downward. "Investors were somewhat optimistic about the U.S. economy, but they grew cautious as labor indicators pointed to a slowdown," said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Co., adding that the market was also surprised by the downward revisions. Banking and other financial stocks were notably sold as hopes for improved profits receded after long-term interest rates declined. Stocks later recouped some of their losses as investors hunted for bargains, brokers said.

Nintendo keeps Switch 2 forecast unchanged despite hot start
Nintendo keeps Switch 2 forecast unchanged despite hot start

Japan Times

timean hour ago

  • Japan Times

Nintendo keeps Switch 2 forecast unchanged despite hot start

Nintendo sold more than 6 million units of its Switch 2 console over its first seven weeks on sale, but kept its full-year forecast unchanged. The Kyoto-based company said on Friday that it still expects to sell 15 million units of its next-generation hardware by March, maintaining what's widely seen as a conservative view. The company said that new U.S. tariffs did not have a significant impact on its forecast. The record-setting pace of early sales of the Switch 2 more than doubled Nintendo's revenue in the June quarter. Operating profit in the period was ¥56.9 billion ($378 million), beating the average of analyst estimates. Nintendo sold 8.67 million copies of games for the Switch 2, with marquee launch title Mario Kart World drawing more than 5 million sales through the end of June. Released on June 5, the $450 Switch 2 got off to a sizzling start in key markets. It set new highs for global sales and reversed a decline in spending on video game hardware in the United States. Nintendo is now ramping up production, saying that demand for its new console exceeds supply in many countries. New tariffs introduced by the U.S. government may hamper the profitability of Nintendo's hardware lineup over the coming months, even with the company downplaying their impact on outlook. The Japanese entertainment giant ships most of its U.S.-bound machines from Vietnam and those will be subject to a 20% levy under the tariff regime of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has said the company may have to raise prices, depending on the situation. "We expect the overall hardware segment to fall into operating loss' once the 20% tariff kicks in, UBS Securities analyst Yijia Zhai wrote in a report. "From the next fiscal year onward, there is a possibility that the price of the Switch 2 may be raised.' Sustaining the strong early momentum into this year's holiday shopping season won't be easy, especially with the Switch 2 being the most expensive piece of hardware Nintendo has ever sold, according to earlier comments from Furukawa. The company will strengthen its lineup of Switch 2 games next quarter with Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which will be available on Oct. 16.

Japan food exports expand 15.5% in January to June
Japan food exports expand 15.5% in January to June

Japan Times

timean hour ago

  • Japan Times

Japan food exports expand 15.5% in January to June

Japan's exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products and other food items grew 15.5% from a year earlier to ¥809.7 billion ($5.48 billion) between January and June, the agriculture ministry said Monday. Exports to the United States, which announced "reciprocal" tariffs in April, hit a record first-half high of ¥141.0 billion, up 22.0%. The surge was driven by robust demand for scallops, green tea and yellowtail. The U.S. was the largest destination for such exports from Japan, accounting for 18.6% of the total exports. According to a survey by the ministry, some businesses still refrained from exporting due to concerns over uncertainty regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Exports to Taiwan and South Korea also hit record highs. The ministry attributed this to increased recognition of Japanese cuisine thanks to a rise in visitors to Japan, as well as an increase in Japanese restaurants. Meanwhile, exports were the highest on record for 19 items including beef, green tea and yellowtail. Scallop exports saw the sharpest increase, jumping ¥10.9 billion to around ¥35.0 billion. Exports of the shellfish to the U.S., Vietnam and Thailand grew. Green tea exports followed with ¥26.3 billion, up ¥10.4 billion. Shipments of matcha green tea powder, used for lattes and desserts, to the U.S., European and Southeast Asian markets were higher. The ministry has set an export target of ¥2 trillion for 2025. To achieve this, exports must increase over 47% in the July-December second half. The ministry plans to accelerate efforts to fully resume exports of fishery products to China.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store