The Chinese govt. raised the stamp tax for equities trading to 0.3%, from 0.1%, which effectively sent shares down broadly, worst for B-shares at ~-9%.

Selling in China doesn’t appear, at least this point, that it will spill over too much, as it did in late Feb. In fact, there are some asking whether China won’t head to new highs as investors buy on the sell-off.

* Nikkei 225 Stock Average: -84.30 (-0.5%) to 17,588.26
* Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: -90 (-0.5%) to 17,590
* TOPIX 1st Section: -4.15 (-0.2%) to 1,733.75, Advancers: 706 x decliners 898 (unchanged 120)
* JASDAQ: -0.49 (-0.6%) to 80.66