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JAPAN-STOCKS-MARKETS-OPEN
Tokyo stocks open higher following Wall St climb
TOKYO, Aug 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Tokyo stocks opened higher on Monday,
tracking rallies on Wall Street with all eyes on key events this week
including a major speech by the US Federal Reserve chief.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.90 percent, or 182.81 points, at
20,601.62 in early trade, while the broader Topix index climbed 0.68 percent,
or 10.17 points, to 1,495.46.
Investors are closely watching US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s
speech when he opens the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole symposium later
this week, said Shuji Hosoi, senior strategist at Daiwa Securities.
“The focus is on whether any sense of the Fed’s policy direction, such as
prospects of rate hikes, will be provided to address uncertainties over the
global economy,” Hosoi said.
Other key events this week include US corporate earnings reports, mooted
Japan-US ministerial trade talks in Washington, and US housing sales data, he
noted.
Analysts also pointed to news that Washington and Beijing are working to
revive trade talks as a positive factor for the Japanese market.
The dollar fetched 106.39 yen in early Asian trade, against 106.36 yen in
New York on Friday.
In Tokyo, banks were among the winners, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial
trading up 1.02 percent at 503.9 yen and Mizuho Financial up 0.65 percent to
154.8 yen.
Carmakers also gained, with Nissan edging up 0.32 percent to 660.9 yen and
Toyota trading up 0.82 percent at 6,846 yen.
On Wall Street, the Dow ended up 1.2 percent to 25,886.01.
BSS/AFP/HR/0940