Investors expect reports this week will show Japan's recovery from deflation and that's driving domestic demand-related stocks higher. The prospects for the steel industry are quite positive, supported by strong demand. |
Investors know that the upside resistance (on the Nikkei) is strong at 16,000 points, so the best strategy is hunting bargains when the market sinks. |
Investors were keenly awaiting machinery orders, due out in the afternoon. However, the downside on the main indices was limited as investor hopes for a further rise remained pretty strong. An outcome (on the data) above the market consensus could set the stage for a further boost. |
It is totally natural to see this level of drop on profit-taking. |
It was a tug-of-war between investors taking profits and those chasing bargains. |
It's good that they moved quickly to close the deal ... The market is closely watching what strategies Seven & I will come up with after making the U.S. unit wholly owned. |
It's not really that overseas investors are negatively reacting to Japanese stocks overall but rather... they are waiting for results, worried about rising oil prices and higher interest rates. |
Large technology companies continue to attract investors as there is a good chance they will raise their earnings forecasts. It looks like the possible rate increase by the Fed in May won't be the last one, and that's weighing on stocks. |
Many market participants were trying to cover their [long] positions before the holiday-packed week here. This exaggerated today's fall. |
Nippon Steel will finish strong in both the third quarter and in the full year. A strong domestic market and weak yen has helped the company achieve positive earnings. |
Now it is certain that the end of the (super-loose) policy is coming at the March meeting (next week). |
Some investors focused on domestic demand-led sectors, while high-tech firms appeared to be weaker due to lingering worries over the firmer yen. |
Some offshore investors secured cheaper funds here in yen for investing in Japanese equities. They appeared to be nervous as they consider an end to the current ultra-loose monetary policy by the Bank of Japan would increase their costs. |
Sony and Sanyo are coming up with more aggressive restructuring. But investors are now buying companies that can post strong growth without restructuring, |
Sony and Sanyo are coming up with more aggressive restructuring. But investors are now buying companies that can post strong growth without restructuring. |