If you haven’t heard yet, then you probably will some point on Monday: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed in the red on Friday, marking its 12th consecutive decline, the longest since a 15-session losing streak in April-May 1954 during a time of “economic uncertainty” after the end of the Korean War.
However, the current […]

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Last week was another down week for the Nikkei, albeit very limited, but the Friday close of 13,942 was over 3.5% off the weekly high and the second consecutive week of a sub-14,000 finish. So, while the Nikkei had been showing signs of promise and not simply selling-off on every piece of bad news, a […]

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The Nikkei had a rough go last week indeed, losing 3.6% and the 14,000-level (13,973.73); TOPIX fell to 1,371.57 after a short-lived recovery of 1,400 two weeks ago. No worries though, as Chicago Nikkei 225 futures not only held 14k, but added 140 points to the upside (14,220) setting the stage for a gap up […]

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The Nikkei 225 had a positive week, up a modest 1% to 14,489.44, its highest close since early January, but fell short of its calendar year high of 14,691. Remember, keeping things in perspective is important because the N225 opened the year at 15,155 and was trading 18,000-plus last year. In spite of recent resiliency […]

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Last week’s question of resiliency or reluctance at 14,000 for the Nikkei 225 Stock Average was answered, somewhat predictably, with another late-week rally. The Nikkei ended the week higher by 2.3% to 14,338.54 and the broader TOPIX, which rose by the same amount, recouped the 1,400-level (1,408.14) for the first time since January 10th.
This week, […]

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What to watch: Thursday, May 29: U.S. Revised Q1 GDP; Friday, May 30: CPI for April (May for select metropolitan areas); April - Industrial Production; April - Household income and expenditure survey; April - New housing starts; April - Unemployment and Ratio of Job Offers to Applicants
Ongoing: Commodities and forex volatility — more inflation reporting […]

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What to watch: Monday and Tuesday, May 19-20: Bank of Japan [BoJ] Monetary Policy Meeting; Tuesday, May 20: Monthly Report of (May) Economic and Financial Developments [BoJ]
Ongoing: Earnings season is in the home stretch; 150 announcements are scheduled for Friday (less than 50 are scheduled for the week of May 26); It goes without saying […]

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What to watch: Earnings season peaks with over 1,700 companies reporting this week; Monday, 5/12: Economy Watchers Survey - March (Cabinet Office); Money supply data - April (Bank of Japan (BOJ)); Wednesday, 5/14: Corporate Goods Price Index - April (BOJ); U.S. CPI - April; Thursday, 5/14: Machinery Orders - March (Cabinet Office); Mansion/Condominium sales - […]

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What to watch: Monday and Tuesday, May 5-6: Nothing — TSE closed (trading resumes Wednesday); Earnings season also resumes; Friday, May 9: Index of Business Conditions (Cabinet Office)
Ongoing: As always, external factors will impact domestic equities; however at present, conditions seem favorable given the weakening yen (now around ¥105/$1) and an accommodative Fed on all […]

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What to watch: Earnings reporting continues; JGB activity (unprecedented サーキットブレーカー (circuit breaker) action last Friday; rising yields but equity yields still attractive to the 10-year); Tues./Wed., April 29 -30: FOMC rate decision meeting; Wed., April 30: Bank of Japan (BoJ) monetary policy meeting; March - Industrial production; March - New housing starts; March - Unemployment […]

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