[Nikkei Average Stock Price・TOPIX (Table)]
Nikkei Average; 39,208.12; -156.56
TOPIX; 2,727.85; -0.35
[Afternoon Market Overview]
In the afternoon session, the Nikkei Average started at 39,208.12 yen, down 156.56 yen from the previous day, slightly widening its decline compared to the previous close of 39,281.06 yen. During lunch time, the Nikkei 225 Futures are trending weakly in the range of 39,110 yen to 39,300 yen. The dollar-yen exchange rate stands at 1 dollar = 153.60-70 yen, almost the same level as around 9 a.m. In Asia, the Shanghai Composite Index is firmly in the positive zone, increasing about 0.7%, while the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index, after starting higher, is facing some resistance with a rise of about 0.7%.
In the Tokyo market for the afternoon session, selling was slightly ahead at the start compared to the previous close. There are tendencies to hold back from aggressive buying as market participants await the announcement of the results from the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) scheduled for early morning Japan time, along with a press conference by Jerome Powell, Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve (FRB), and the results from the Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting and a press conference by Governor Ueda scheduled for tomorrow. On the other hand, the Nikkei Average has dropped close to 500 yen over the past three consecutive days until yesterday, and there seems to be easier buying aimed at a self-rebound at lower levels or waiting for a dip.
In the Sector, Other Products, Information and Communications, and Retail Trade are at the top of the decline rate, while Transportation Equipment, Electricity and Gas, and Mining are at the top of the rise rate.
In the trading volume on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Main Board, SoftBank Group <9984>, Honda <7267>, NINTENDO CO LTD <7974>, IHI <7013>, DeNA <2432>, Sony Group Corp <6758>, Rakuten <4755>, Fast Retailing <9983>, Renesas <6723>, and Sumitomo Mitsui <8316> have decreased. On the other hand, Nissan <7201>, Mitsubishi Motors <7211>, Disco <6146>, Park24 <4666>, Ibiden <4062>, MAZDA MOTOR CRP <7261>, Sanrio <8136>, Kasumigaseki Capital <3498>, Mitsui E&S <7003>, and Daiichi Sankyo <4568> have increased.