ZCZC
BCN-04
STOCKS-JAPAN-OPEN
Tokyo stocks open lower as investors take to sidelines
TOKYO, April 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Tokyo stocks opened lower on Tuesday as
investors took to the sidelines ahead of key events including an EU summit
and meeting of the European Central Bank tomorrow.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 0.08 percent or 16.93 points at
21,744.72 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was down 0.23 percent
or 3.73 points at 1,616.41.
“Trade is seen lacking a sense of direction and investors are taking a
wait-and-see attitude ahead of the IMF growth forecast this evening and the
EU summit and the ECB meeting” on Wednesday, Okasan Online Securities said in
a commentary.
The dollar fetched 111.50 yen in early Asian trade, against 111.49 yen in
New York on Monday.
In Tokyo, Sony was up 6.61 percent at 5,123 yen after reports said US hedge
fund Third Point is raising funds to build a stake in the Japanese
electronics company.
Oil-related shares were higher, reflecting rallies in crude prices, with
oil developer and refiner JXTG gaining 2.04 percent to 550.2 yen and its
rival Inpex up 0.74 percent at 1,077 yen.
On Wall Street, the Dow ended down 0.3 percent at 26,341.02.
BSS/AFP/SR/1910 HRS