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STOCKS-JAPAN-OPEN
Tokyo stocks open higher on US rallies, cheaper yen
TOKYO, Dec 23, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Tokyo stocks opened higher on Monday
helped by rallies on Wall Street, a cheaper yen, and sustained positive
sentiment on US-China trade.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.43 percent, or 101.45 points, to
23,918.08 in early trade, while the broader Topix index was up 0.23 percent,
or 4.04 points, at 1,737.11.
US President Donald Trump said Friday he had a “very good talk” with his
Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on a partial resolution of the trade war.
“Investors took heart from President Trump’s comments” that the bilateral
talks with China were productive, Hideyuki Ishiguro, senior strategist at
Daiwa Securities, said in a commentary.
Trump tweeted that China “already started large scale” increases in
purchases of US farm goods, in line with the deal.
However, he did not give a date for when the so-called “phase one”
agreement will actually be signed.
The comments helped boost US stocks on Friday, with all three major
indices ending at all-time highs, with the dollar edging higher against its
major peers, including the yen.
In Asia on Monday, the dollar fetched 109.45 yen against 109.47 yen in New
York late Friday.
In Tokyo, China-linked shares were higher with construction machinery
giant Komatsu gaining 0.86 percent to 2,675 yen and industrial robot maker
Fanuc advancing 0.58 percent to 20,690 yen.
Chip-related shares were also higher, with Tokyo Electron trading up 0.83
percent at 24,150 yen and Advantest up 0.48 percent at 6,180 yen.
On Wall Street, the Dow ended up 0.3 percent at 28,455.09.
BSS/AFP/HR/0945