Profit-taking was the theme following yesterday’s Nikkei 225 rally to a 6-week high, coming ahead of BoJ monetary policy (unanimous decision to hold at 0.5% and earnings season starting in the U.S.). The Nikkei 225 lost 79.07 (-0.45%) to 17,664.69. TOPIX 1st section fared better, but still closed lower, -0.14% to 1,735.69. Decliners outnumbered advancers almost 2:1 at 1,054 x 543 and 130 unchanged. Only 13 of 33 TOPIX sectors posted gains. JASDAQ ended a three-day decline, closing 0.13% higher to 83.49.
