The month of April is over as far as the Nikkei is concerned and that is a good thing. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 28.76 (-0.17%) to 17,400.41 (range: 17,299.37 - 17,542.25) . Nikkei 225 futures in Osaka lost 50, or -0.29% to 17,410 (range: 17,300 - 17,560). TOPIX 1st Section fell 2.41, or […]

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Don’t get excited! Golden Week is coming (three-day weekend plus Tokyo and Osaka are also closed next Thur. and Fri.). There’s not much reason for new buying, as many investors will be on the sidelines and/or quick to take any profits, given the holiday. Hey, this is almost like the status quo, but what’s different […]

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I subscribed late last year and just received the premier issue (May ‘07). There’s a deal to sign up for 12 issues @$12 or 75% off cover price and I think I’ll do just that and maybe gift a few too. It is published monthly, but the next issue does not come out until mid/late […]

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Nikkei 225 Stock Average: -215.61 (-1.24%), 17,236.16 (range: 17,221.55 - 17,379.52)
N225 Futures - Osaka: -170 (-0.97%), 17,280 (range: 17,240 - 17,390)
TOPIX 1st Section: -18.82 (-1.10%), 1,687.34 (range: 1,683.19 - 1,701.46), Decliners > Advancers: 1,194 x 428 [108 unchanged], Only 2/33 sectors post gains, TOPIX Core 30 hits near calendar year low
JASDAQ: +1.41 (1.78%), 80.50 […]

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The FT Alphaville blog discusses a new research report by Merrill Lynch that says any Fed easing due to subprime mortgage woes ‘could fuel the biggest bull run ever seen in emerging markets,’ in the words of FT. In short, here’s the scoop on emerging market stocks according to Merrill:
“We continue to believe the asset […]

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HOYA (JP: 7741) got beat up again, -3.77% to ¥3,830 (down over 7% in two sessions). It is nearing a calendar year low, set March 19 at ¥3,810. Not necessarily a rush to get in here, but arguably becoming an attractive buying opportunity — either look at buying as a trade and/or build (add) a […]

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After HOYA’s (JP: 7741) earnings failed to impress, it looks like Canon’s (JP: 7751) (CAJ) continued success just may rub off on the overall market and bring buyers back into the game. If not, we play the wait-and-see, flat, up 1.5%, down 2% game a little longer. At any rate, the Nikkei 225 Stock Average […]

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So much for the morning rally. An S&P upgrade of Japan’s long-term credit rating one notch to “AA” from “AA-” resulted in buying of yen, and the rest is no surprise, selling of exporters and sustained weakness in domestic oriented and smaller-cap stocks. The Nikkei finished 2.75 points (0.02%) higher to 17,455.37 (range: 17,413.64 - […]

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Blue chip exporters are leading the rally. Thank the Dow — 13,000?! Domestic oriented stocks and most financial stocks are weak — one exception of strength is ORIX (JP: 8591) (IX). There’s a clear and present preference. We’re still seeing bullishness in Kyocera (JP: 6971) (KYO) and TDK (JP: 6762) (TDK), but surprised to see […]

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The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 0.46% to 17,452.62 (range: 17,404.62 - 17,502.02), unable to regain/hold the psychologically important level of 17,500. It was the third lightest trading day of the year, but buying of N225 futures after yesterday’s drop (despite an overall lack of bullishness and only a 0.1% gain to 17,410 (range: 17,410 […]

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