[Nikkei Stock Average and TOPIX (Table)]

Nikkei average; 39,117.83; -711.73.

TOPIX; 2,696.98; -43.96.

[Sector]: Mining, insurance, banking, transportation equipment, wholesale trade, etc. are the top decliners, while pharmaceuticals, precision instruments, and electric and gas industries rose. The turnover of the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime includes Laser Tech <6920>, Mirrors HD <8897>, Kawasaki Shipbuilding <9107>, Dai-ichi Life HD <8750>, Recruit HD <6098>, Marubeni <8002>, Mitsui & Co. <8031>, Honda <7267>, SMC <6273>, INPEX <1605>, Nissan Motor <7201>, and Nomura <8604>, all of which fell. Meanwhile, Nitori Holdings <9843>, Rakuten Group <4755>, and Daiichi Sankyo <4568>, among others, have risen.

On September 30, the Nikkei average started with a significant drop of 711.73 yen to 39,117.83 yen compared to the previous week. In the U.S. market on the 27th, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended trading at 42,313.00, up 137.89 points, and the Nasdaq closed at 18,119.59, down 70.70 points. The start was positive after proof of the continuation of the inflation slowdown trend in the August PCE price index, supported by observations of a significant rate cut following a slower pace than expected. The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index also exceeded expectations, leading to a rise in the Dow. Concerns about worsening Middle East tensions caused a slowdown towards the end but still reached record highs. The Nasdaq was affected by the decline of Nvidia (NVDA) in the semiconductor sector, turning downwards, with mixed market closing. The Chicago Nikkei 225 futures settlement price was 37,450 yen, down 2,400 yen from Osaka.

Today's Nikkei average started with a significant decline, reflecting the Saya position in the Chicago futures. Last week, positions incorporating Mr. Takai's victory in the LDP presidential election had been built up. However, Mr. Ishiba's reversal quickly unraveled these positions. While the decline itself is large, it is a move within expectations. The focus now is on identifying a stable point.

In the top trading volume on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, major stocks such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries <7011>, Lasertec <6920>, Toyo Electric <8035>, Disco <6146>, Advantest <6857>, First Retailing <9983>, IHI <7013>, Kawasaki Heavy Industries <7012>, and Nintendo <7974> all experienced a general decline. Banking stocks like Mitsubishi UFJ <8306> are moving inversely higher. By sector, real estate, transportation equipment, and securities and commodity futures are among the top decliners.