BSS
  12 Oct 2021, 10:24

Tokyo shares under pressure after Wall Street losses

 TOKYO, Oct 12, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Tokyo stocks opened lower on Tuesday after
Wall Street slipped, as investors looked for fresh news with inflation
worries continuing to weigh.

  The benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 0.13 percent, or 35.84 points, to
28,462.36 yen. The broader Topix index fell 0.25 percent, or 5.06 points, to
1,991.52.

  The dollar stood at 113.45 yen, rising from 113.31 yen in New York Monday
as the Japanese currency continued to lose momentum.

  Soaring energy prices were placing heavy pressure on the market, stoking
worries about inflation.

  "The rise in energy prices is fuelling concerns that the transitory lift in
inflation seen in the wake of the pandemic may prove to be longer lasting,"
Tapas Strickland of National Australia Bank said in a note.

  All three major Wall Street indexes closed with losses as West Texas
Intermediate oil for delivery in November traded at $80.52 a barrel late
Monday in New York, its first time above $80 since October 2014, while
London's Brent oil jumped to a three-year high at $84.59.

  In Tokyo, investors were seen returning to buying, but the weak Wall Street
performance reversed the sentiment for now.

  "Investors are turning wary after continued falls on Wall Street, which is
pouring cold water on just as Tokyo was expected to rebound," Okasan Online
Securities said after the Nikkei surged 1.60 percent on Monday.

  "The yen's depreciation against the dollar and rising oil prices should
serve as the main cues for the day," with energy shares likely to be buoyant
for now, Okasan said.

  Among major shares, energy developer INPEX firmed 1.97 percent to 984 yen.
Energy plant maker JGC Holdings added 1.12 percent to 1,079 yen.

  Another major energy firm ENEOS Holdings rose 1.42 percent to 463.8 yen
after it announced its planned purchase of a renewable energy company.

  The falling yen lifted exporters, including automakers.

  Toyota added 0.83 percent to 2,003.5 yen, Nissan climbed 1.52 percent to
573 yen and Honda rose 0.84 percent to 3,462 yen.

  Construction equipment maker Komatsu firmed 1.23 percent to 2,710.5 yen.

  But Sony Group slipped 0.24 percent to 12,355 yen. Tech investor SoftBank
Group dropped 2.81 percent to 6,236 yen.