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Tokyo stocks close up on stimulus package, US rallies
TOKYO, Dec 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Tokyo stocks closed higher on Thursday as
investors welcomed fresh stimulus measures for Japan and rallies on Wall
Street after upbeat reports about US-China trade talks.
The benchmark Nikkei index climbed 0.71 percent, or 164.86 points, to
23,300.09 while the broader Topix index was up 0.48 percent, or 8.14 points,
at 1,711.41.
Investors welcomed a stimulus package worth $120 billion announced by
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday.
“It’s certainly positive news,” said Toshikazu Horiuchi, a broker at
IwaiCosmo Securities.
“In particular, stimulus-related shares such as construction companies
benefited from the announcement,” Horiuchi told AFP.
Japanese shares were also encouraged by rallies in US stocks on renewed
hopes for the China-US trade talks, dealers said.
Bloomberg News reported that US negotiators expected a deal to be
finalised before US tariffs against China are due to rise on December 15.
The dollar fetched 108.78 yen in Asian afternoon trade, against 108.88 yen
in New York.
In Tokyo, construction firms jumped on the announcement of the package.
Obayashi surged 2.44 percent to 1,217 yen with Shimizu up 3.38 percent at
1,099 yen.
Oil-linked shares and commodities were also higher reflecting a rebound in
global stocks, with Japan Petroleum Exploration jumping 4.25 percent to 2,967
yen, crude oil developer and distributor Inpex climbing 1.51 percent to 1,073
yen.
Sony lost 0.14 percent to 7,088 yen on profit-taking following recent
gains.
BSS/AFP/HR/1240