ZCZC
BCN-05
STOCKS-JAPAN-MARKETS-OPEN
Tokyo main stock market opens up in lacklustre trade
TOKYO, April 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Tokyo’s main stock market opened slightly
higher on Wednesday but trade was lacklustre with few fresh clues to tempt
investors into action.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.14 percent or 29.50 points at
21,534.81 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was down 0.05 percent
or 0.78 points at 1,610.91.
“Trade in Japanese shares is seen as a mixture of profit-taking sales and
buying on dips,” Okasan Online Securities said in a commentary.
“As US shares barely moved, investors are struggling to find a fresh
market-moving event,” it added.
The yen was also barely changed, with the dollar fetching 111.29 yen in
early Asian trade, against 111.36 yen in New York late Tuesday.
The Dow Jones Index ended down 0.3 percent at 26,179.13 on Tuesday. An
upbeat forecast from Delta lifted airlines but disappointing Walgreens
results weighed on the market.
In Tokyo, market heavyweight and Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast
Retailing was up 2.90 percent at 53,300 yen, industrial robot maker Fanuc was
up 1.73 percent at 20,545 yen and Sony was up 0.36 percent at 4,698 yen.
But mobile phone operator and investment fund SoftBank Group was down 1.11
percent at 10,710 yen and Takeda Pharmaceutical was down 1.19 percent at
4,498 yen.
BSS/AFP/HR/0913