* Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: +270 (+1.5%) to 17,860 * TOPIX 1st section adds almost 22 points, or 1.3% to 1,755.68; Advancers 1,286 x decliners 324 (unchanged 118); 101 new highs x 11 new lows; 31/33 sectors posted gains * JASDAQ: +0.12 (+0.15%) to 80.78

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 [...]

* Nikkei 225 Stock Average: +84.97 (+0.5%) to 17,672.56 * Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: +80 (+0.45%) to 17,680 * TOPIX 1st Section: +13.52 (+0.8%) to 1,737.90; Advancers 1,110 x decliners 484 (unchanged 128), 29/33 sectors posted gains * JASDAQ: +0.38 (+0.47%) to 81.15

The Nikkei lags the ytd returns of many overseas markets, but its long-term up trend is in tact. The market seems pretty balanced and range bound.

* Nikkei 225 Stock Average: -215.76(-1.2%) to 17,481.21 * Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: -210 (-1.2%) to 17,450 * TOPIX 1st Section: -22.57 (-1.3%) to 1,715.54; Advancers 241 x decliners 1,413 (unchanged 77) ** 134 new lows were made Friday versus just 17 new highs * JASDAQ: +0.91 (+1.15%) to 80.28 Japan April CPI -0.1%, in-line [...]

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan speaks and markets move. Fortunately this time around, there was a rather muted response, as the Shanghai Composite lost 0.5% and Japanese indices lost 0.1%; U.S. stocks fell into negative territory erasing earlier gains. China’s B shares fared worse, but the reasoning behind the selling is beyond this summary [...]

* Nikkei 225 Stock Average: +25.07 (+0.1%) to 17,705.12 * Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: +40 (+0.2%) to 17,730 * TOPIX 1st Section: +8.54 (+0.5%) to 1,740.08; Advancers 1,053 x decliners 574 (unchanged 104) * JASDAQ: +0.19 (+0.24%) to 79.55 * Dollar/Yen steady at ~121.5, attractive for exporter stocks

* Nikkei 225 Stock Average: +123.18 (+0.7%) to 17,680.05 * Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: +130 (+0.7%) to 17,690 * TOPIX 1st Section: +20.87 (+1.2%) to 1,731.54; Advancers 1,239 x decliners 386 (106 unchanged) * JASDAQ: +1.40 (+1.8%) to 79.36 Sony (JP: 6758) (SNE) at five-year high; bank stocks rally ahead of mega banks’ Mitsubishi UFJ [...]