Latest news with #InvestmentContentDepartment
The Mainichi
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Tokyo stocks end slightly lower before election, earnings season
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended slightly lower after directionless trading Wednesday, as many investors took to the sidelines ahead of the House of Councillors election on the weekend and the start of the earnings season later this month. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 14.62 points, or 0.04 percent, from Tuesday at 39,663.40. The broader Topix index finished 5.91 points, or 0.21 percent, lower at 2,819.40. On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by real estate, pulp and paper and securities house issues. The U.S. dollar remained firm in Tokyo after hitting a three-month high of 149.03 yen in New York overnight on receding expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve following higher-than-expected inflation data for June, dealers said. Stocks swung between positive and negative territory throughout the day amid growing caution as recent media polls have shown that the ruling parties are facing an uphill battle in Sunday's election and could lose their majority in the upper house, brokers said. "The Nikkei's 40,000 mark has been perceived by investors as a psychological barrier over the past two weeks," said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co. "It's difficult for investors to keep buying ahead of the major events, with the earnings season starting after the upper house election," she said. Meanwhile, heavyweight semiconductor-related shares drew buying after major Dutch chip equipment maker ASML Holding N.V. released solid earnings in the afternoon.
The Mainichi
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Tokyo stocks fall as firmer yen hits exporters, gains locked in
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks dropped Thursday as a stronger yen prompted selling of exporter shares and investors locked in gains after two straight days of advances. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 174.92 points, or 0.44 percent, from Wednesday at 39,646.36. The broader Topix index finished 15.82 points, or 0.56 percent, lower at 2,812.34. On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by electric power and gas, oil and coal product and marine transportation issues. The U.S. dollar briefly weakened to the upper 145 yen range in Tokyo as U.S. Treasury yields fell after President Donald Trump again called on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, arguing the current benchmark rate is too high, dealers said. Stocks were weighed down by export-oriented auto and electronics issues due to a firmer yen, which decreases overseas profits of exporters when repatriated. Investors also sold shares as the Nikkei index climbed close to the 40,000 line over the past two days after Trump announced to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from Japan, while setting an extended negotiation deadline of Aug. 1. "The market was pressured by shares that had advanced notably as the Nikkei approached the 40,000 mark, rather than by selling on concern about U.S. tariff policy," said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.
The Mainichi
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Tokyo stocks end higher as concerns ease about Trump tariff on Japan
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended slightly higher Tuesday as concerns eased about U.S. President Donald Trump imposing a tariff much higher than initially announced on Japan and hopes grew for further negotiations through Aug. 1. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 101.13 points, or 0.26 percent, from Monday at 39,688.81. The broader Topix index finished 4.82 points, or 0.17 percent, higher at 2,816.54. On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by nonferrous metal, glass and ceramic product and precision instrument issues. The U.S. dollar climbed to the lower 146 yen range in Tokyo as the latest tariff hike announcement was seen as reducing the likelihood of an early interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan, dealers said. The Nikkei stock index initially tracked overnight Wall Street losses after Trump said Monday the 25 percent tariff on imports from Japan will be imposed from Aug. 1. The index soon gained upward momentum and moved into positive territory, with the U.S. tariff level little changed from 24 percent announced in April, brokers said. Under Trump's so-called reciprocal tariffs, Japan was facing an additional levy of 14 percent on top of a baseline 10 percent duty, for a total rate of 24 percent. "Since some investors were cautious after Trump had said earlier this month he may hike tariffs as high as 30 to 35 percent, his announcement of a 25 percent tariff relieved their worries," said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co. The weaker yen benefited export-linked issues including auto shares.
The Mainichi
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Tokyo stocks end slightly higher amid caution over US jobs data
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended slightly higher Thursday after directionless trading as many investors took to the sidelines ahead of the release of U.S. jobs data. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 23.42 points, or 0.06 percent, from Wednesday at 39,785.90. The broader Topix index finished 2.95 points, or 0.10 percent, higher at 2,828.99. On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by iron and steel, nonferrous metal and transportation equipment issues. The U.S. dollar briefly declined to around the mid-143 yen line in Tokyo as investors grew cautious ahead of the release of key U.S. jobs data later in the day after U.S. employment data from payroll processor ADP turned out weaker than expected, raising uncertainty about the world's largest economy. But the U.S. currency later rebounded to the upper 143 yen zone, as the Japanese currency was sold on eased expectations for an early interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan after Hajime Takata, its hawkish member, said the central bank is pausing to raise the rate for now, dealers said. Stocks moved in and out of positive territory as investors grew wary of taking bold positions after the ADP report for June showed that private payrolls unexpectedly fell for the first time in about two years, brokers said. "Investors who have so far perceived the labor market is solid are focused on whether they can maintain the view" when the U.S. jobs data for June comes out, said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co. The market found some support from buying of heavyweight semiconductor-related issues following an overnight advance by the tech-heavy U.S. Nasdaq index. However, persistent worries about tariff negotiations dampened sentiment, with a Japan-U.S. trade deal looking uncertain after other countries already reached agreements with Washington.
The Mainichi
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
Nikkei index ends at 11-month high on US economy optimism
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks climbed for a fifth straight day, with the Nikkei index ending at an 11-month high, buoyed by hopes that the U.S. economy will be supported by an interest rate cut that could come sooner than expected. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 336.60 points, or 0.84 percent, from Friday at 40,487.39, its highest level since July 17 last year. The broader Topix index finished 12.30 points, or 0.43 percent, higher at 2,852.84. On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by electric power and gas, information and communication, and mining issues. The U.S. dollar weakened to the upper 143 yen range in Tokyo amid growing speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates early following recent dovish comments from some Fed officials, dealers said. The Nikkei stock index briefly advanced more than 700 points following Wall Street gains late last week amid growing optimism that the world's largest economy would be lifted by U.S. monetary easing, brokers said. Meanwhile, automaker shares fell after U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has no plans to roll back hefty auto tariffs imposed on Japan, clouding the outlook for ongoing bilateral tariff negotiations. "Automakers have likely factored in the impact of higher tariffs on their earnings, but uncertainty over tariff talks on the key industry is weighing on such shares," said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co. Some export-oriented electronics issues were also sold due to a stronger yen, which reduces overseas profits of exporters when repatriated, while investors locked in gains after the Nikkei ended above the 40,000 threshold Friday for the first time since January.
