* Rallying Philippine retreat; Indonesia at week low * Profit taking hits banking, consumer shares * Commodities-related shares lift S'pore, Thailand By Viparat Jantraprap Feb 7 (Reuters) - Stocks in the ...
* Banks lead Philippine to all-time high * Growth optimism bolsters selective buying * Profit taking, Greek problems weigh By Viparat Jantraprap Feb 6 (Reuters) - Stocks in Singapore and thePhilippines ...
* Consumer shares rise, econ data cheers * Profit taking pulls Manila off record high By Viparat Jantraprap Feb 3 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets endedmostly higher on Friday, boosted by consumer ...
* Region sees bout of profit-taking * Rotational plays lift consumer, resource stocks * Malaysia shut for a market holiday By Viparat Jantraprap Feb 1 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock marketsedged ...
U.S. stocks traded in a narrow range Tuesday, after worse-than-expected U.S. housing and manufacturing data tempered the modest enthusiasm over Europe's progress on a new fiscal pact. The Dow Jones industrial average slid 30 points, or 0.2%. The S&P 500 shed 1 point, or 0.1%. The Nasdaq added 1 points, or or 0.1%. Investors parsed through a mixed bag of earnings from Exxon Mobil, UPS, Pfizer and ...
| Feb 06 | Japan Stocks Advance on U.S. Jobs Data; Nikon Jumps After Lifting Forecast |
| Japanese stocks rose, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average closing at its highest level in three months, after U.S. joblessness fell and companies from Nikon Corp. (7731) to Oki Electric Industry Co. raised profit forecasts. Sony Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) advanced on optimism rising employment in the U.S. will boost exports. Nikon surged 11 percent after raising its full-year outlook on sales of digital cameras. Oki Electric jumped 14 percent. "In the second half of last year, talk was all about whether the U.S. will go back into a recession," said Andrew Pease, Sydney-based chief investment strategist for the Asia- Pacific region at Russell Investment Group, which manages about $150 billion. "Now I think talk will be about what will be the strength of the recovery in the U.S. That's an important shift in the balance of risk." The Nikkei 225 gained 1.1 percent to 8,929.20, its highest close since Oct. 31. (Bloomberg) |
| Feb 03 | Japan stocks fall on profit taking, strong yen |
| Japanese shares dropped Friday as investors sold stocks to lock in profits after recent gains and as market sentiment was hurt by the yen's rise against the euro. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 44.89 points, or 0.51 per cent, to close at 8,831.93. The broader Topix index was down 1.76 points, or 0.23 per cent, at 760.69. For the week, the Nikkei was down 0.11 per cent while the Topix inched down 0.1 per cent. Investors were also cautious ahead of the release of US employment data later in the day. (monstersandcritics.com) |
| Feb 02 | Tokyo stocks close up 0.76% |
| Tokyo stocks have closed up 0.76 per cent as hopes for the global economy offset heavy sell-offs in individual companies including Sharp, which sank to its lowest level in more than three decades. The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 67.03 points to 8,876.82 on Thursday and the Topix index of all first-section issues rose 0.59 per cent, or 4.49 points, to 762.45. The bourse halted trade in 241 issues for the whole morning due to a technical glitch. The suspension was lifted when the afternoon session started and its impact on overall market volatility was minimal, brokers said. (tradingroom.com.au) |
| Feb 02 | Trading suspended in 241 issues in Tokyo on glitch |
| The Tokyo Stock Exchange says it has suspended trading in 241 securities, including Sony Corp. and Hitachi Ltd., due to a glitch in its electronic trading system. The problem was not affecting other issues on the exchange, which handles nearly 2,500 stocks and other financial instruments, exchange officials said. The Nikkei 225 index was up 68.73 points, or 0.8 percent, at 8,878.47 in midmorning trading. Stock exchange officials said they discovered the problem before trading opened at 9 a.m. and technical staff are working to correct it. (AP) |
| Feb 01 | Japanese Stocks Advance After ANA Raises Forecast, Shipping Lines Surge |
| Japanese shares advanced, with the Topix (TPX) Index snapping a four-day loss, after All Nippon Airways (9202) Co. raised its operating profit forecast and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. led shipping companies higher. All Nippon Airways, Asia's largest listed carrier by sales, jumped 6.8 percent. Mitsui O.S.K. led a rebound among cargo lines after Jefferies Group Inc. boosted its target price. Unicharm Corp. (8113) rose 2.1 percent after a report the diaper maker will double its production capacity in India. "Earnings aren't looking that bad," said Hisakazu Amano, who helps oversee the equivalent of $29 billion at T&D Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. "Investors aren't buying across the board, but they're picking companies that have specific strengths and that's buoying the market." (Bloomberg) |
| Jan 27 | Tokyo stocks close flat |
| Tokyo stocks have closed flat as investors cautiously looked to a European Union leaders meeting next week. The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange edged down 0.09 per cent or 8.25 points to 8841.22 on Friday. The Topix index of all first-section issues lost 0.46 per cent or 3.48 points to 761.13. Shares stayed rangebound following declines in US stocks on Thursday on data including weaker-than-expected December home sales. Dealers said investors stepped aside as they looked to the EU summit meeting on Monday. (ninemsn.com.au) |
| Jan 26 | Tokyo Shares End Down; Profit-Taking Hits Fanuc, Machinery Stks |
| Tokyo stocks posted a modest loss Thursday, largely on profit-taking following the market's recent bullishness, with Fanuc Corp., along with Komatsu Ltd. and other overbought machinery shares, falling sharply on earnings- and China growth-related jitters. The Nikkei Stock Average dropped 34.22 points, or 0.4%, to 8849.47 following the prior session's 1.1% rise to a 12-week closing high. The Topix index of all the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section issues also lost 2.79 points, or 0.4%, to 764.61, with 22 of 33 subindexes ending in negative territory. Trading volume totaled 1.95 billion shares, down from Wednesday's 2.2 billion-share pace. (Wall Street Journal) |
| Jan 25 | Japanese stocks advance as yen eases, Apple posts record profit |
| Japanese stocks advanced, sending the Topix Index up for a seventh day, as the yen weakened and technology companies rose after Apple Inc. reported record sales and profit. Sony Corp., Japan's biggest exporter of consumer electronics, gained 4.8 percent. Toshiba Corp., a supplier of chips for Apple's iPad, rose 1.8 percent. Toyota Motor Corp. climbed 3 percent after a report that Nippon Steel Corp. agreed to cut material prices for Japan's biggest carmaker. The Topix, the country's broadest equity gauge, climbed 1.3 percent to 767.40 at the 3 p.m. close in Tokyo, its longest winning streak since July 6. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 1.1 percent to 8,883.69, its highest since Oct. 31. (BusinessWeek) |
| Jan 24 | Japan stocks up on weaker yen, receding worries over eurozone |
| Japanese shares edged up Tuesday after market sentiment was lifted by the yen's fall against the euro and receding fears about the eurozone debt crisis. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 19.43 points, or 0.22 per cent, to close at 8,785.33 while the broader Topix index was up 0.61 points, or 0.08 per cent, at 757.4. Tokyo stocks opened higher after overnight gains on European markets. European finance ministers met overnight to consider measures for combating the debt crisis. (monstersandcritics.com) |
| Jan 24 | Sony and Panasonic brace for grim earnings season |
| Sony Corp and rival Panasonic Corp are set to report a slump in quarterly earnings and may cut full-year forecasts after being hit by yen strength, Thai floods and consumer gloom in Europe during the vital pre-Christmas period. Both companies saw their debt ratings downgraded by Moody's Investor Services last week, as their TV divisions continue to bleed red ink despite restructuring efforts. Sony, which reports on February 2, is expected to barely break even for the normally lucrative October-December quarter. Operating profit is seen shriveling 94 percent to 8.8 billion yen ($114.3 million), based on an average estimate from 6 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. (Reuters) |
| Jan 23 | Nikkei rises for fifth day, Olympus climbs |
| Japan's Nikkei share average was set to extend gains for the fifth straight session on Monday, although the failure over the weekend of Greece and its private creditors to reach a deal on avoiding a messy default limited its advance. Scandal-hit Olympus Corp surged 7.6 percent and was the heaviest traded stock by turnover on the main board after the Tokyo bourse kept the company listed. The Tokyo Stock Exchange, however, on Friday placed the camera and endoscope maker on its "security on alert" list for firms needing to urgently improve their internal management. (Reuters) |
| Jan 20 | Tokyo shares hit 10-week high as weaker yen sparks exporters |
| Tokyo stocks posted strong gains Friday, as a sharply higher euro on the back of easing tension over euro-zone financial issues, helped exporters such as Honda Motor Co., Canon Inc. and TDK Corp. to push the Nikkei Stock Average to a fresh 10-week high. The Nikkei added 126.68 points, or 1.5%, to 8766.36 following the prior session's 1.0% advance. The closing mark was the highest for the benchmark index since Nov. 7. For the week, the Nikkei added 3.1% and is now up 3.7% for the year so far. The Topix index of all the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section issues also added 14.79 points, or 2.0%, to 755.47, with 31 of 33 subindexes ending in positive territory. Volume continued to look brisk, as 2.59 billion shares changed hands--the highest total since Aug. 9. It was the third straight session that the figure exceeded 2.0 billion, underscoring the return of robust investment flows. (Wall Street Journal) |
| Jan 20 | Embattled Olympus to remain on Tokyo stock market |
 Olympus Corp. will not be kicked off the Tokyo Stock Exchange, but the camera and medical device maker must pay a fine for covering up massive losses with false accounting, exchange officials said Friday.
Olympus will be monitored by the exchange as a security on "Alert" because significant improvements must be made in its internal control systems, it said in an emailed statement.
Olympus faced removal from the stock exchange following revelations of a scheme by the Tokyo-based company to hide 117.7 billion yen ($1.5 billion) in investment losses dating back to the 1990s. (AP  ) |
| Jan 19 | Tokyo stocks close 1.04% higher |
| Tokyo stocks have ended up 1.04 per cent at their highest close in more than a month on hopes for a boost in the International Monetary Fund war chest and a stable euro against the yen. The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Thursday rose 89.10 points to 8,639.68, closing above the 8,600 mark for the first time since December 12. The Topix index of all first-section issues gained 0.78 per cent, or 5.70 points, to 740.68. "Fears over the European debt crisis are receding," said SMBC Nikko Securities general manager of equities Hiroichi Nishi. (ninemsn.com.au) |
| Jan 19 | Ministry plans to enable real estate securitization |
| The land ministry announced plans to establish a new system facilitating the securitization of real estate assets to raise private funds as part of efforts to promote seismic retrofitting and redevelopment for deteriorated buildings. While the importance of improving buildings' earthquake resistance has become more widely recognized following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry aims to use the system as a way to help revive civic functions, the ministry said. The ministry will submit plans to revise the Real Estate Specified Joint Enterprise Law to the ordinary Diet session, with hopes to enact the law from April 2013. (Yomiuri) |
| Jan 18 | Tokyo stocks close at two-week high |
| Tokyo stocks have risen 0.99 per cent on Wednesday to close at their highest level in two weeks on higher risk appetite as the yen's rise against the euro took a breather. The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which rose 1.05 per cent on Tuesday, added another 84.18 points or 0.99 per cent to 8,550.58, the highest finish since trading resumed on January 4 after a New Year break. The Topix index of all first-section issues gained 0.47 per cent, or 3.45 points, at 734.98. (skynews.com.au) |
| Jan 17 | Japan equity funds see longest run of outflows in 13 yrs |
| Japanese equities mutual funds suffered a third straight month of net outflows in December for the first time in nearly 13 years as a poor performance stemming from Europe's debt crisis and the yen's firmness prompted selling by risk-averse retail investors. Equity investment trust funds, a type of mutual fund known as toushin, saw net outflows of 44.4 billion yen ($578.80 million) in December after posting net outflows of 273.7 billion yen, the biggest in three years, a month earlier, the Investment Trusts Association of Japan said. Equity trust funds marked the third consecutive month of net outflows for the first time since the February-April period of 1999. (Reuters) |
| Jan 17 | Tokyo Shares End Higher As Weaker Yen, China Data Spur Rally |
| Tokyo stocks rose Tuesday, as a weaker yen and stronger-than-expected Chinese economic data pushed Fanuc, Mori Seiki, and other China-exposed shares higher, while exporters such as Nissan Motor and Tokyo Electron also posted solid gains. The Nikkei Stock Average added 88.04 points, or 1.1%, to 8466.40 following Monday's 1.4% fall. The Topix index of all the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section issues gained 6.29 points, or 0.9%, to 731.53, with 31 of 33 subindexes ending in positive territory. TSE 1st section trading volume reached a year-to-date high of 1.76 billion shares. (Wall Street Journal) |
| Jan 16 | Tokyo Shares End Down As S&P Action, Weak Euro Rekindle Fears |
| Tokyo stocks fell sharply Monday, as Standard & Poor's credit rating downgrades on several European nations and fresh weakness in the euro translated into a selloff for financial shares such as Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Dai-ichi Life Insurance, as well as prominent exporters such as Sony. The Nikkei Stock Average dropped 121.66 points, or 1.4%, to 8378.36 following Friday's 1.4% rise. The benchmark index came within a few ticks of setting a fresh 2012 intraday low. The Topix index of all the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section issues also fell 9.36 points, or 1.3%, to 725.24, with 31 of 33 subindexes ending in negative territory. As U.S. markets are on holiday tonight, trading volume wasn't very active considering the underlying volatility, totaling just 1.35 billion shares. (Wall Street Journal) |
| Jan 16 | Japan's growing yen for acquisitions |
| Japan Inc is on an acquisitions march across Asia and around the world, new figures show, as firms armed with ever more valuable yen take strategic advantage of the currency's post-war highs. Western economies have been left in turmoil by the global financial crisis and eurozone sovereign debt woes. And in recent years Japan's economy has been eclipsed by that of China, which has overtaken its neighbour to take second place in global GDP rankings on the back of rampant growth that has underpinned much of the global economy. But last year Japanese firms made 198 corporate purchases across the rest of Asia, mergers and acquisitions researchers Recof Data found, an all-time high and well above the previous record of 153 in 2005. (Channel NewsAsia) |
| Jan 13 | Nikkei climbs 1.1 pct after Spain, Italy auctions |
| Japan's Nikkei average rose more than 1 percent to hit a one-week high on Friday, boosted by gains on Wall Street and solid demand at debt auctions in Spain and Italy, which are now at the forefront of the euro zone debt crisis. Many major exporters with exposure to Europe were in demand as the euro gained against the yen on the back of the debt sales. Canon put on 2.3 percent and Konica rose 1.3 percent. Inpex Corp, Japan's top oil and gas explorer, added 1.2 percent after saying it has decided to go ahead with the $34 billion Ichthys liquefied natural gas export project in Australia, in which it has a 73 percent stake. Among engineering firms involved in the project, JGC Corp climbed 5.2 percent and Chiyoda Corp gained 3.6 percent. (Reuters) |
| Jan 13 | METI bigwig nabbed in insider trading via wife's name |
| Prosecutors arrested a senior official at the trade ministry Thursday over insider trading in a 2009 state-led bailout for chip-maker Elpida Memory Inc. Masaaki Kimura, 53, is suspected of repeatedly buying shares in Elpida Memory under his wife's name from February to May 2009. If found guilty, he could face five years in prison or a fine of up to ¥5 million. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office arrested him on suspicion of violating the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law, which prohibits shady stock transactions. (Japan Times) |
| Jan 12 | Tokyo stocks close lower as Germany data fuel eurozone worries |
| Tokyo stocks fell Thursday after two straight days of gains as weak Germany economic data left investors concerned about the outlook for the eurozone economy. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 62.29 points, or 0.74 percent, at 8,385.59. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 6.32 points, or 0.86 percent, lower at 727.15. Almost all 33 sectors declined, led by the securities, iron and steel, and pharmaceutical sectors. The machinery sector and the sea transport sector were the sole gainers. (Mainichi) |
| Jan 11 | Nikkei edges up; euro debt crisis limits gains |
| Japan's Nikkei stock average edged higher on Wednesday, taking comfort from a rise on Wall Street, though the debt turmoil in the euro zone capped gains. Spain and Italy, which are now at the forefront of Europe's sovereign debt crisis, will test investor appetite this week with bond auctions, while the European Central Bank is due to hold a rate-setting meeting later in the day. A trader, however, said the U.S. KBW banks index, which advanced 1.9 percent on Tuesday, was a good indicator of risk appetite for Japanese stocks. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group rose between 0.9 and 1.6 percent. (Reuters) |
| Jan 11 | Nonresidents net buyers of Japan stocks for 3rd year in 2011 |
| Nonresident investors remained net buyers of Japanese stocks for the third straight year in 2011, purchasing a net 1.97 trillion yen worth of shares on Japan's three major stock exchanges, the Tokyo Stock Exchange said Tuesday. Nonresident investors were net buyers in aggregate at the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya bourses for 29 consecutive weeks from November 2010 to May 2011, the longest streak since comparable data were logged in 1982, against the backdrop of relatively undervalued Japanese stocks. (Mainichi) |
| Jan 10 | Japanese shares close 0.38% higher |
| Japanese shares have closed 0.38 per cent higher but investors remained wary over eurozone risks ahead of bond auctions in Italy and Spain later in the week. The Nikkei index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Tuesday closed up 31.91 points at 8,422.26. The Topix index of all first section shares rose 0.32 per cent or 2.33 points to 731.93. Bargain hunting lifted the market after a selloff on Friday, Toshiyuki Kanayama, senior market analyst at Monex, told Dow Jones Newswires. The stock exchange was closed on Monday for a national holiday. (ninemsn.com.au) |
| Jan 09 | Olympus likely to retain TSE listing |
| Olympus Corp. likely will be allowed to remain on the Tokyo Stock Exchange--at least for the time being--but the scandal-mired optical equipment maker could be fined and forced to reform its management to stay listed, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. The TSE could make a final decision this month on Olympus, which came under a cloud last year after revelations that it had been hiding huge losses for decades. The company also released false financial statements. A TSE self-regulatory body that supervises the market and screens companies' worthiness to be listed has almost completed its investigation into Olympus. It has interviewed Olympus executives and other people involved in the case. The watchdog could hold an extraordinary directors meeting sometime this month, at which it will officially decide on whether Olympus should remain listed on the TSE. (Yomiuri) |
| Jan 07 | Airline may spur busiest share offering year since 2007 |
| Japan may see its busiest year for initial public offerings since the global financial crisis, with Japan Airlines Corp., social network providers and manufacturers preparing to issue shares. As many as 50 domestic companies will offer shares to the public for the first time in 2012, Toshio Isohashi, head of IPOs at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., said Wednesday in Tokyo. That would be the highest number since 2007, the year before Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.'s bankruptcy triggered the deepest postwar global recession. (Japan Times) |
| Jan 05 | Nikkei retreats from 3-wk high as euro worries nag |
| Japan's Nikkei stock average pulled back on Thursday from a three-week closing high, weighed down by concerns that the euro zone debt crisis would keep the single currency weak against the yen and hurt Japanese exporters. "The strong yen against the euro is not seen as a temporary, short-term problem and it is pressuring the market," said Yutaka Miura, a senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities. "The focus this year is whether Europe's debt problems will settle and when those problems will begin to impact the United States. There are no other themes this year except Europe. Market participants are watching how much longer the yen will continue to rise against the euro and the dollar." The euro was trading just above 99 yen on Thursday, near an 11-year low. (Reuters) |
| Jan 05 | Japan Airlines plans share listing of up to $13 billion: report |
| Japan Airlines Co (JALFQ.PK) plans to relist its shares as early as September in a public offering that could raise up to 1 trillion yen ($13 billion), Bloomberg news reported on Thursday, marking the carrier's recovery from bankruptcy and restructuring. A Japan Airlines spokesman declined to comment, although the company had said it would consider returning to the stock market when a government-backed turnaround body sells its $4.3 billion stake by the end of this year. Nomura Holdings Inc (8604.T) and Daiwa Securities Group Inc (8601.T) were in August selected by the state-backed Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp as global coordinators on the planned sale of its stake in the carrier, which filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2010 after collapsing under repeated losses and mounting debt. (Reuters) |
| Jan 04 | Nikkei climbs 1.2 percent, eyes 75-day moving average |
| Japan's leading share average rose to a three-week closing high on Wednesday after better-than-expected economic data from the United States and China, although strategists said the rally could stall if the euro holds below 100 yen. The data eased concerns over the health of the global economy, boosting Japanese automakers and financials. Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) advanced 3.1 percent and Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) gained 1 percent, while battered Nomura Holdings (8604.T) topped the blue-chip Topix Core 30 .TOPXC list as the biggest percentage gainer, adding 6.9 percent. (Reuters) |
| Jan 01 | Whither Japan Stocks: Annus Horribilis 2011 But How About 2012? |
 During many years, and 2011 has been one such year, the Tokyo stock market seems like a geriatric ward whose residents grow weaker, frailer, and more infirm by the day, and where at yearend the prognosis is further deterioration.
Granted, 2011 was extraordinary in visiting upon Japan a series of major, unprecedented disasters and difficulties: the 3.11 Northeastern earthquake/tsunami; the Fukushima nuclear accident; prolonged financial crisis in Europe; massive flooding in Thailand; and-through it all-an historically strong yen.
But even if 2011 was annus horribilis for the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), 2010 was not much better, and it is not hard to imagine that 2012 could be more of the same, or worse. (Forbes) |
| Dec 30 | Japan's Nikkei at lowest year-end level since 1982 |
 Japan's main share index has closed at its lowest end-of-year level since 1982.
The Nikkei 225 index finished Friday up 0.7% to 8,455.35
Stocks have been hit by a weak global economy, as well as a devastating earthquake and tsunami on 16 March that left 20,000 people dead or missing and sparked a nuclear crisis.
Shares have lost a fifth of their value this year, with the majority of losses in the two days following the disaster.
The disaster severely disrupted manufacturing at carmakers such as Toyota and electronics firms such as Sony. (BBC) |
| Dec 30 | Nomura outduels Goldman |
| Nomura Holdings Inc. pulled ahead of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to hold on to the top spot for mergers and acquisitions advisory work in Japan in 2011 after the two competed neck and neck during the last two months. Nomura, the nation's largest brokerage, this year advised companies on 134 transactions worth $65.4 billion, including Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.'s $13.7 billion acquisition of Swiss drugmaker Nycomed. Goldman Sachs came in second after handling 24 deals worth $62.3 billion. (Japan Times) |
| Dec 29 | Nikkei falls, cautious ahead of Italian bond sale |
| Japan's benchmark Nikkei slipped on Thursday ahead of an Italian debt sale that could prove challenging in thin volumes, while the euro's tumble against the yen to a 10-year low pressured exporters. Elpida Memory, Japan's last remaining player in the dynamic random-access memory chip market, sank as much as 10 percent after a report said it may delay paying back 30 billion yen ($385 million) in public funds. The chipmaker underperformed the Nikkei average, which fell 0.3 percent to 8,398.89, taking cues from declines in U.S. and European shares as well as a broad fall in the euro on renewed concerns over the euro zone sovereign debt crisis. The broader Topix reversed earlier losses and gained 0.1 percent to 722.12. (Reuters) |
| Dec 27 | Tokyo stocks fall on profit taking |
| Japanese stocks fell Tuesday on profit taking, but trading was light because of the end of the year holidays and as investors awaited the release of US economic data. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 38.78 points, or 0.46 per cent, to close at 8,440.56 after rising 1 per cent a day earlier. The broader Topix index fell 2.19 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 724.25. A report on consumer confidence was to be released later in the day in the United States, a key market for Japan's exports. (monstersandcritics.com) |
| Dec 26 | Nikkei breaks above 25-day average in thin trade |
| Japan's Nikkei average rose on Monday to breach its 25-day moving average in thin trade after upbeat U.S. housing data and a two-month extension of the U.S. payroll tax cut gave temporary relief to market participants. Trading volume on Tokyo's main board hit a fresh low for the year, with just 904.2 million shares changing hands, while many global markets, including the United States, Europe and Hong Kong, were closed for extended Christmas holidays. The Tokyo Stock Exchange's machinery subindex advanced 1.2 percent, regaining some losses from the previous session after the machine tools sector was last week downgraded to "bearish" by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. (Reuters) |
| Dec 22 | Nikkei ends 2-day winning run, machine tools weak |
| Japan's blue-chip index snapped a two-day winning run on Thursday and met strong resistance near its 25-day moving average, with the machine tools sector weighed down by a brokerage downgrade. The Nikkei average ended 0.8 percent lower at 8,395.16 in thin trade before a three-day weekend, and was flat for the week. The broader Topix was down 0.4 percent at 723.12. (Reuters) |
| Dec 22 | Budget carrier Star Flyer launches successful IPO |
| Star Flyer Inc. listed its shares Wednesday on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange as it aims to start up international services in 2012. The stock fetched an initial quote of ¥5,500, up sharply from its IPO price of ¥3,180. Star Flyer is the second startup air carrier to go public since Skymark Airlines Inc. was listed on the TSE's Mothers market in May 2000. Star Flyer, founded in 2002, issued 140,000 shares in its initial public offering and also put up for sale 90,000 already issued shares held by securities houses and other stakeholders. (Japan Times) |
| Dec 21 | Nikkei climbs 1.5 percent but fails to break 25-day average |
| The Nikkei stock average climbed on Wednesday in a market encouraged by smooth debt sales in Spain and positive housing data in the United States, but gains were capped by resistance at its 25-day moving average. The Nikkei's rise was less than half of the huge gains in Wall Street shares on Tuesday, and was driven mainly by buybacks in battered shares such as shipmakers and steelmakers. A lack of a major trading theme led short-term traders to turn their eyes to volatile shares of troubled firms, such as Tokyo Electric Power Co (9501.T) and Olympus Corp (7733.T), the two most active shares on Wednesday. (Reuters) |
| Dec 20 | Nikkei gains in thin trade, mood still shaky on Europe |
| Japan's Nikkei average rose modestly on Tuesday as short-term players bought back shares that had been sold after news of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il raised fears about regional instability. Investors also picked up scandal-hit Olympus Corp (7733.T), which snapped a four-day losing streak and jumped 16 percent on a report that it was considering a $1.3 billion capital increase, with high-tech stalwarts Sony (6758.T) and Fujifilm (4901.T) cited as possible buyers. "Some people are obviously seeing that this will add to its net assets and contribute to the financial health of the company and increase the value of the company," said Masayoshi Okamoto, head of dealing at Jujiya Securities. (Reuters) |
| Dec 20 | Olympus aims to tap Sony, others for $1.3 bln in new capital |
 Olympus Corp is preparing to issue about $1.28 billion (100 billion yen) in new shares to bolster its depleted finances, with Japanese high-tech stalwarts Sony and Fujifilm seen as possible buyers, the Nikkei business daily reported.
The report comes after a warning from one of the camera and endoscope maker's leading shareholders that the scandal-tainted board may try to retain control by issuing new shares to dilute the power of existing shareholders.
Olympus shares surged by their daily limit on Tuesday, after falling for four straight sessions on worries about how capital - raising may dilute existing shareholdings, with investors seeming to shift their focus to the firm's finances. (Reuters ) |
| Dec 19 | Nikkei falls on news of Kim Jong Il's death |
| The Nikkei index closed down 1.26 percent Monday to finish at its lowest closing level in three weeks following news at midday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has died, and on renewed concerns over the eurozone debt crisis. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 105.60 points at 8,296.12, its lowest close since Nov. 28. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed down 7.18 points, or 0.99 percent, at 716.38. Almost all 33 sectors on the TSE lost ground, led by the sea transport, securities and iron and steel sectors. The pulp and paper, and rubber products sectors were the sole gainers. (Mainichi) |
| Dec 16 | Tokyo shares mixed to close amid eurozone fears |
| Japanese stocks ended mixed Friday as a smooth Spanish bond auction and better-than-expected jobs data in the United States were tempered by ongoing eurozone fears. The Nikkei index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed 0.29 per cent or 24.35 points higher to close at 8,401.72. The Topix index of all first section shares dipped 0.20 per cent or 1.46 points to 723.56. "It's hard to trade," Yoshihiro Okumura, general manager at Chibagin Asset Management, told Dow Jones Newswires. "Since concerns continue over European sovereign debt problems for the mid- to long-term, the market can't be risk-on even if the US economic indicators are strong." Despite the swirling eurozone debt crisis, Spain enjoyed a bumper bond sale on Thursday, raising nearly twice the amount targeted as it snatched the chance to lock in competitive borrowing rates. (AsiaOne) |
| Dec 15 | Nikkei down 1.7 percent, breaks support at 25-day average |
| Japan's Nikkei share average fell to a two-week closing low on Thursday, breaking below its 25-day moving average as worries about European debt woes hit risk appetite, with investors looking to a Spanish debt auction later in the day. Olympus Corp (7733.T) fell more than 20 percent after the scandal-hit company restated its earnings results on Wednesday, showing a $1.1 billion dent in its balance sheet after a 13-year accounting fraud that has engulfed the company. The Bank of Japan likely purchased exchange-traded funds as part of its liquidity-boosting program, traders said, but it provided only limited support. (Reuters) |
| Dec 14 | Nikkei falls after Fed, clings to 25-day average |
| Japan's Nikkei share average dipped on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve gave no hints of new stimulus measures, but managed to close above key support at its 25-day moving average, raising cautious optimism over the market's outlook. Shares of online gaming firm Nexon Co slipped on its trading debut following a $1.2 billion IPO, Japan's biggest this year, hurting other Internet and game company shares, while scandal-hit Olympus Corp slipped in volatile trade as it restated its earnings. "Most market players don't expect the Nikkei to move sharply in any direction ahead of the year-end," said Naoki Kamiyama, chief strategist at Deutsche Securities. (Reuters) |
| Dec 14 | Nexon shares slip after Tokyo IPO, may sting Zynga debut |
| Online gaming firm Nexon Co slipped on its trading debut on Wednesday following a $1.2 billion IPO, Japan's biggest this year, and may signal a bumpy ride for U.S.-based rival Zynga, which debuts on Nasdaq later this week. Zynga, which has developed the popular FarmVille and Mafia Wars games for Facebook, has had to trim its near-$1 billion IPO - the largest from a U.S. Internet company since Google Inc in 2004 - because of weak financial markets. It is due to price its offering on Thursday. Nexon, founded in South Korea almost two decades ago, offers PC-based games for free, while charging users small fees for in-game virtual items such as clothing for avatars -- a so-called freemium model that analysts see as relatively recession-proof. (Reuters) |
| Dec 14 | Japanese Debt: The Bubble Of The Century? |
| Are JGBs -- Japanese government bonds -- the ultimate bubble? These are very expensive, hence they have very low yields (around 1% for 10 year maturities). And according to many, that is a bit of a conundrum, considering there are so many of these JGBs. We described how Japan suffered from a Great Depression-type shock (or actually, an even larger one as a whopping three years of GDP worth of wealth was destroyed) without suffering a Great Depression. They pulled this off by embarking on a rather expansionary fiscal policy (as monetary policy is much less potent under these circumstances). (SeekingAlpha) |
| Dec 14 | BOJ to inject additional $4.7 billion into money markets |
| The Bank of Japan said Tuesday it will provide an additional $4.77 billion to money markets as part of measures to ease tensions over funding conditions for commercial lenders affected by the sovereign debt crisis in Europe. It will be the biggest move since the BOJ reintroduced such operations in May 2010. The move follows an agreement last month between six central banks, in the U.S., Japan, Canada and Europe, to boost dollar-fund injections into domestic markets. (Japan Times) |
| Dec 13 | Tokyo stocks close 1.37% higher on EU move to back tighter budget policing Close |
| Tokyo stocks rose 1.37 percent on Monday following a move by European Union leaders to back tighter budget policing in a desperate bid to save the debt-riddled eurozone. The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 117.36 points to close at 8,653.82. The Topix index of all first-section issues added 1.16 percent, or 8.57 points, to 746.69. Markets reacted positively as European leaders took a first step towards fiscal integration at their talks last week, said Yumi Nishimura, senior market analyst at Daiwa Securities. A total of 26 of the 27 EU states signalled their willingness to join a "new fiscal compact" to resolve the crisis threatening to break apart the monetary union. (Economic Times) |