Archive | Market Summary

I’m not sure why the Japanese market isn’t closed when the U.S. market is, because it seems almost pointless, as trading is mostly directionless, and everyone is wondering about X data release coming out next from the U.S. and/or how U.S. stocks will trade next. At any rate, let’s just say they gave it their [...]

The Nikkei 225 had a nice run the previous two days. The first day of the rally was of course recovering from the prior day’s selling. At any rate, we all know how quickly profit-taking happens in Japan — thus, nothing much to complain about today, in spite of a negative close. U.S. stock exchanges [...]

Yesterday was all about fear, related to the India stock sell-off and concerns about the forthcoming ISM data release in the U.S., which turned out lower-than-expected, but not enough to really push U.S. stocks in the red. At any rate, Japanese stocks were bought back, nearly recovering yesterday’s 1.5% loss on the Nikkei. The Nikkei [...]

From what I understand, everything was basically okay, until word of a rate hike by India’s central bank hit the wires. This news came early during the afternoon session in Tokyo, just as the Indian markets were opening. Indian stocks tanked — I believe the BSE 30 ended down by just under 5% for the [...]

Another mostly uneventful day. Thank the laggard bank stocks and other non-bank financial stocks that were bought ahead of the new fiscal starting on Monday, for supporting the benchmark indices today. The Nikkei 225 gained 23.71 points (0.14%) to 17,287.65, or still about 1,000 points off its late Feb. multi-year high — just before the [...]

Nothing too exciting here, except it looked like it was going to get really ugly before the start of the afternoon session. Basically, there’s not much action, since we have just one more day before the end of Q4 and the fiscal year. The yen was not really a factor either. The Nikkei gained 9.21 [...]

The hundred-plus point loss today for the Nikkei 225 is not as bad as it looks, especially considering the expected profit-taking from (1) stocks going ex-dividend yesterday, (2) the fourth-quarter and fiscal year-end that’s coming this Friday, and (3) recent strength in equities [a five-day rally that had started (in a holiday-shortened) last week]. Decliners [...]

Japanese stocks faced selling pressure following a five day rally and due to stocks going ex-dividend today, all resulting in profit-taking. The Nikkei 225 lost 0.9% to 17,365.05. TOPIX fell 1% to 1,723.86. Decliners outnumbered advancers 1,419 x 233 (58 unchanged). Note we are also rapidly approaching the end of the current fiscal year.

It was hardly a bullish day, but given the light volume, in fact the lightest trading this year, we think it was a positive session overall. Today was the last chance to buy stocks paying a year-end dividend (ex-dividend from tomorrow).