Sony closed down 6% in April 25 trade after the company announced at the end of the last week that it would postpone its earnings release date to next month.
The delay was due to uncertainty over the supply chain from two earthquakes which recently hit southwest Japan. Sony was initially scheduled to release its earnings this week.
In the broader Japanese market the benchmark Nikkei 225 closed 0.8% down at 17,439.30 points.
Investors continued to selloff shares of Mitsubishi Motors, which closed down 4.8% on April 25.
Last week, Mitsubishi Motors shares plunged by more than 40% over three days, after the car maker admitted to rigging fuel efficiency tests.
The Japanese automaker is expected to announce annual results on April 27, but media reports have suggested it may skip its earnings forecast – which was originally scheduled for the same day.
Traders in Japan were also cautious ahead of an important Bank of Japan (BoJ) meeting where the lender might decide on more monetary easing.
Japan’s central bank will on April 28 decide on its interest rate which currently is negative as an attempt to spur growth.
In Korea, the Kospi index finished the day flat at 2,014.55 points.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed lower by 0.8% to 21,304.44, while the mainland’s Shanghai Composite also closed lower by 0.42% to 2,946.67.
Markets in Australia and New Zealand were closed on April 25 for the Anzac Day holiday.
There is a long list of companies reporting quarterly earnings this week.
In the US they include tech giants Apple and Facebook, online retailer Amazon, and Dunkin Donuts.
From the auto sector, Ford Motor is due to report its quarterly results.
Over in Asia, South Korea’s Hyundai as well as Japan’s Honda Motor and Mazda Motor update investors on their earnings.
Japan’s stock markets traded higher on April 12, as the yen continues to weaken.
At the end of the day, Nikkei 225 index was up 177.66 points, or 1.1%, at 15,928.79.
The Japanese yen dipped to 108.35 against the US dollar in Asian trade from 107.94 during US trade overnight.
Toyota shares closed higher by nearly 4% after several days of losses, with rival Nissan seeing a 3.2% jump in its shares.
A cheaper yen makes Japanese goods cheaper and more competitive, and is generally seen as a boost for export-related companies.
Shares of brokerage firm Nomura surged 7.4% on reports it plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs in US and Europe. Investors had been worried about Nomura’s non-performing businesses overseas.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi closed up 0.6% at 1,981.32.
In Australia, the S&P ASX 200 index also rose, ending the day up 0.9% at 4,975.60.
Hong Kong markets were also higher. By midday, the benchmark Hang Seng was 0.2% higher at 20,482.30.
However, Chinese markets were lower for most of the session and by midday the Shanghai composite index was down 0.7% at 3,014.20. Investors were selling off shares across the board, including telecommunications and property shares.
US stocks closed lower on April 11 after a late sell-off erased gains made earlier in the day. Investors were preparing themselves for a slew of company results this week.
Later this week, investors will be looking out for earnings from America’s biggest banks.
Japan’s stock market soared by more than 7% on February 15 as the dollar strengthened against the yen.
Last week, the US dollar fell to a 15-month low against the yen and the Nikkei 225 index lost more than 11%.
On February 15, however, the dollar rose to 113.95 yen from 113.25 yen on February 12 in New York.
The bounce for the Tokyo market came despite official figures showing Japan’s economy had contracted by 0.4% in the three months to December.
The worse than expected quarter-on-quarter figures did not stop the Nikkei 225 closing 7.2% higher at 16,022.5 points – its biggest daily percentage gain since late 2008.
Last week, Japan’s markets traded sharply lower as a stronger yen against the dollar hurt the country’s big exporters.
On February 12, the Nikkei index closed down 4.8% to 14,952.6 points – below the 15,000 points level and its lowest close since October 2014.
However, a retreat of the yen on February 15 sent shares in the country’s big exporters sharply higher.
Toyota finished the trading day in Tokyo up more than 9.5%, Honda gained 8% and Nissan rose 6.7%. Sharp and Sony gained just over 7% and 8% respectively.
Analysts said the yen could continue to weaken this year, which would be good for exporters.
Elsewhere, markets in China were divided despite worse-than-expected trade numbers.
On the mainland, where markets were open after a week off for Lunar New Year celebrations, the Shanghai Composite closed down 0.6% at 2,746.2.
In Hong Kong, however, the Hang Seng jumped 3% to 18,874.5 points after finishing lower on February 11 and 12.
Trade numbers released on February 15 showed China’s exports in yuan terms fell 6.6% in January from a year earlier, while imports dropped 14.4%.
In US dollar terms, exports fell 11.2% from a year earlier and imports fell 18.8%, marking the seventh and 15th month of straight declines respectively.
The numbers mean the country was left with a record trade surplus of $63.3 billion for the month, compared to $60.9 billion in December.
Analysts said the January trade data was a reflection of slower external demand – particularly from trading partners like South Korea.
In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 finished up 1.6% to 4,843.5 points, while South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index closed up 1.5% to 1,862.2 points.
Japan’s shares plunged on February 12, following global markets, after a stronger yen against the dollar hurt the country’s big exporters.
Nikkei 225 fell as much as 5.4% in early trade. By the close, the benchmark index had recovered slightly, but was still down 4.85% to 14,952.61 points.
That was below the psychologically important level of 15,000 points and its lowest close since October 2014.
Today’s losses end what has been a turbulent week of trade for Japan.
The index has shed more than 11% over the trading week, which was short because of a public holiday on February 11.
Japan’s big exporters were hurt on February 12 as the dollar fell to a 15-month low against the yen. A stronger yen against the dollar hurts Japan’s exporters, as it makes their products more expensive to purchase overseas.
Auto maker Toyota finished Japan’s trading day down 7%, while Honda lost 5.5% and Nissan shed 5.8%.
Overnight, benchmark indexes in London, the US and Europe posted sharp declines amid continued worries about oil prices and over the strength of the global economy – particularly the outlook for the world’s largest economy, the US.
US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen’s gloomy economic assessment on February 10 was continuing to hurt investor sentiment around the world, analysts said.
Janet Yellen said financial conditions in the US had become “less supportive” of growth, dousing hopes of a second rise in interest rates in the near future.
Asian shares were in mixed territory on February 5 ahead of a closely watched US monthly jobs report.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed down 1.32% to 16,819.59 points as a stronger yen against the dollar hurt the country’s big exporters for a second day.
Toyota and Honda shares finished the day down about 2%, while Mazda shed nearly 5%.
At the close of trade, Toyota reported a 4.7% rise in net income for the three months to December.
However, the company’s operating profit for the quarter fell by 5.3%, missing forecasts.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 spent the day in negative territory and closed flat, down 0.08% to 16,819.59.
The country’s big lenders had weighed on the market and analysts said traders were being cautious ahead of a US jobs report due out later.
Energy companies regained lost territory late in the day, however, with Woodside finishing up 0.41% and rival Santos up 2.2%. Mining giant BHP finished up close to 5%.
Official numbers released earlier showed Australia’s retail sales had come in flat for the month of December – a 0.4% gain was expected.
However, analysts said the numbers still supported economic growth.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng was up 0.4% to 19,255.88 points in afternoon trade, while the mainland’s benchmark Shanghai Composite closed down 0.63% to 2,763.49.
South Korea’s Kospi index closed flat, up just 0.08% to 1,917.79.
Asian stock markets were trading largely lower on February 2 following a lackluster lead from the US overnight and as oil prices fell again.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed down 0.64% at 17,750.68 points.
Tokyo’s benchmark index closed up nearly 2% on February 1, its highest close since early January, after a surprise move by the Bank of Japan cut rates to -0.1%.
In Australia, energy-related stocks weighed on the market, hurt by oil price worries.
Australia’s benchmark ASX 200 shed 1%, dragged down by shares in energy giants including BHP, Woodside and Santos.
Investors also reacted to a move by ratings agency S&P to lower its rating for BHP to “A” from “A+” due to falls in commodity prices, among other issues.
Shares in Woodside closed down 3.2%, Santos lost 4.26%, and BHP ended the trading day down 2.16%.
As widely expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia kept its rates on hold on February 2 at a record low of 2%, where they have been since May 2015.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down 0.81% at 19,441.95 in afternoon trade, while the Shanghai Composite was bucking the regional trend to be up 1.93% to 2,741.39.
South Korea’s Kospi index closed down 1% to 1,906.60, in line with the rest of the region.
Asian stock markets have continued recovery, picking up on a rebound in oil prices and a strong lead from the US and Europe.
The recovery comes after a sharp sell-off earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, hints from European Central Bank (ECB) on January 21 that it might consider more monetary easing helped lift investors’ confidence.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index jumped 5.9% to close at 16,958.53, after hitting at 15-month low the previous day.
Chinese markets also managed to recover some of the past days’ heavy losses.
The mainland benchmark Shanghai Composite gained 0.8% to 2,901.32 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 2.2% to 18,950.19 points.
Markets were encouraged by a recovery in oil prices, which had hit 12-year lows earlier in the week.
Brent crude was up 98 cents at $30.23 a barrel, while US crude was 85 cents higher at $30.38 a barrel.
In Australia, the S&P ASX 200 closed by 1.1% higher, at 4,916.00 points.
Among the market’s standout performers were several of the big oil and commodity companies, buoyed by a rise in the oil price.
BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto were 7.5% and 3.4% up respectively, while Santos climbed 11%.
Stocks of winemaker Treasury Wine Estates also stood out, jumping as much as 17.5% to a record high after the company provided strong full-year profits guidance in a market update.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index followed the region’s trend, closing the day 2.1% higher at 1,879.40 points.
On January 21, shares in Europe and the US closed higher, helped by comments from ECB president Mario Draghi.
After the ECB had kept eurozone rates on hold, Mario Draghi hinted that the bank might take more action to try to stimulate the eurozone economy later this year.
He said the bank would “review and possibly reconsider” monetary policy at its next meeting in March.
Mario Draghi also said eurozone rates would “stay at present or lower levels for an extended period” and there would be “no limits” to action to reflate the eurozone.
Europe’s stock markets have opened slightly higher 24 hours after global turmoil saw billions wiped off the value of shares.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 share index, which measures the share prices of the 100 most valuable companies traded on the London stock exchange, was up 0.5% in the opening minutes.
Earlier, Japan’s main share index closed down by more than 2%.
Investors remain worried over the continuing slide in oil prices and slowing growth in China.
On January 20, global stock markets suffered hefty losses and London’s FTSE 100 lost 3.5%.
It has now entered a “bear market”, having fallen 20% from its record high in April 2015.
In the first few minutes of trade on January 21, the FTSE 100 was up 31.78 points at 5,705.36.
Oil prices remained weak on January 21, having hit their lowest levels since 2003 in the previous session.
A brief rally in crude prices quickly ran out of steam, and after climbing back above the $28-a-barrel mark, Brent crude fell back to $27.79.
US crude was trading at $28.23 a barrel, having fallen below $27 on January 20.
Crude oil prices have been falling since mid 2014, but oil-producing countries have maintained output despite the decline, contributing to the excess supplies on the market.
Earlier in the week, the International Energy Agency warned that oil markets could “drown in oversupply” in 2016.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 share index closed down 2.4%, while China’s Shanghai Composite ended the day down 3.2%.
On January 20, US shares had also been hit, with the Dow Jones closing 1.6% lower after a volatile trading day.
Japan stock market hit a one-year low in January 18 trade following big falls in the US and as oil prices dropped below $28 a barrel for the first time since 2003.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 closed down 1.1% at 16,955.57 – its lowest close in a year.
In Australia, investors also reacted to falling oil prices.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.7% at 4,858.70, with energy-related stocks and banking shares weighing on the index.
BHP Billiton shares fell 3%, Woodside lost 2.6%, and Santos shares fell 8.4%.
Photo Reuters
Australia’s big lenders also saw falls on January 18, with ANZ’s shares down 2% and Westpac’s down 1%.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed flat at 1,878.45 after spending much of the day in negative territory.
In China, analysts said they expected markets to be hurt further this week by falling oil prices, together with continued worries about the country’s economic growth. China’s latest quarterly gross domestic product numbers are out on January 19.
Housing data released on January 18 showed house prices rose 1.6% in December from a year earlier. China’s housing market accounts for about 15% of the economy and the latest numbers mark the third consecutive month of year-on-year gains.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed down 1.5% at 19,237.45, while the Shanghai Composite finished the day 0.44% higher at 2,913.84.
Japanese shares have tumbled after a heavy sell-off on Wall Street added to nervousness among investors.
Nikkei 225 index fell more than 4% before closing down 2.7% at 17,240.95. Earlier, the index had fallen below the key resistance level of 17,000 for the first time since September.
US shares had fallen over 2% as a oil stockpiles report and a Federal Reserve survey suggested more sluggish growth.
Weak economic data from Japan also dented investors’ confidence.
Government data showed that core machinery orders fell 14.4% in November from the previous month.
The orders were down for the first time in three months in the world’s third largest economy.
Brent crude prices, meanwhile, fell 0.9% to $30.05 a barrel after earlier hitting a fresh 12-year low of $29.73.
In Australia, S&P/ASX 200 share index ended 1.6% lower at 4,909.40, despite the release of better than expected employment data.
The unemployment rate in the country was 5.8% in December, with fewer jobs lost than economists were expecting.
Australia lost 1,000 new jobs, as against expectations of 10,000.
In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed down 0.9% at 1,900.01 after its central bank kept interest rates unchanged for the seventh consecutive month.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was 0.5% lower at 19,830.64 in afternoon trade.
China’s Shanghai Composite index was the only bright spot in the region – rising 0.6% to 2,967.35 – as it reversed earlier losses.
Regulators had announced late on January 13 that they had stepped up monitoring share-selling by listed companies’ major shareholders.
The securities commission also said that its transition to a US-style registration system for listings would be a gradual process and not lead to a surge in initial public offerings (IPOs).
The announcement was the latest in a series of measures to support the market after heavy losses since last week.
Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia’s Jakarta composite index was down 1.7% at 4,459.32 after multiple bomb blasts rocked the capital city.
Japanese shares rose to a two-month high on Friday, October 30, after Bank of Japan decided to keep its monetary easing policy steady.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 initially fell on the decision by more than 0.4%.
The index recovered to close up 0.78% at 19,083.1 points.
BoJ’s 2% inflation target was also pushed back by about six months.
While forecasts for economic growth for the year to March 2016 were also lowered to 1.2% from 1.7%.
Japan’s central bank governor Haruhiko Kuroda told reporters on October 30 the inflation target timing had been delayed “largely due to the effect of energy price falls”.
The BoJ’s current stimulus package is designed to give a boost to the world’s third-largest economy.
Private consumption makes up some 60% of Japan’s economic activity, but the country has struggled with deflation, or falling prices, for more than 15 years. Lower prices for goods in Japan have seen consumers hold on to their money in the hope of even lower prices later on.
The stimulus package is designed to encourage lending, which in turn should see consumers spending more.
Earlier on Friday, a string of domestic data showed Japan’s core consumer inflation number had fallen 0.1% in September from a year ago, household spending had fallen 0.4% year-on-year while unemployment had remained steady at 3.4% compared to August.
The data fuelled some speculation the BoJ would make a move. But eight out of nine board members voted in favor of the decision.
Japan’s stock market fell on September 18 as the yen strengthened against the dollar in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s decision not to raise interest rates.
The Nikkei 225 index closed down 2% at 18,070.21. The dollar fell against the yen following the Fed’s decision to keep its interest rates unchanged, which hit shares in Japanese exporters.
Shares in Toyota and Honda dropped 1.4%, while Panasonic was 2.1% lower.
A stronger yen against the dollar affects exporters, as it makes their goods more expensive to sell overseas.
The Fed’s decision to hold interest rates also renewed concerns about the strength of the global economy.
Photo WSJ
The US central bank said worries over the global economy, particularly China, had influenced its decision not to raise rates.
US shares saw choppy trade after the decision, with both the Dow Jones and S&P 500 closing lower.
Chinese shares were mixed after government data showed that property prices had shown some signs of recovery.
New home prices rose for a fourth consecutive month in August, up 0.3% from the previous month, but were down 2.3% from a year ago.
The property sector accounts for 15% of China’s economic growth, so even minimal gains have a positive impact on the world’s second largest economy.
The Shanghai Composite index ended 0.4% higher at 3,097.92, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed up 0.3% at 21,920.83.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index erased earlier losses to end up 0.6% at 5,178.50.
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index finished 1% higher at 1,995.95.
Japan’s stock market headed higher on September 17 despite trade data for August coming in below market expectations.
Japanese exports rose 3.1% from a year ago, falling short of the 4% predicted, while imports fell a more-than-expected 3.1% in the same period.
Investors also ignored a credit rating downgrade for Japan by S&P rating agency, because of a weakening outlook for the economy.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed up 1.4% to 18,432.27.
Photo Getty Images
The index has risen for a third consecutive day.
Australian shares headed higher, following the global lead, after US shares were positive ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision on whether to raise interest rates for the first time in almost a decade.
In Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 0.9% to 5,146.80 points.
Chinese shares headed higher, following on from yesterday’s trend, when mainland shares rallied to close up nearly 5%.
The Shanghai Composite was up 1.6% to 3,202.42, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was higher by 0.6% at 22,089.24 in afternoon trade.
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index finished trading flat at 1,976.49 as investors awaited the Fed’s decision.
China stock market led gains across Asia on September 16, with the Shanghai Composite closing up 4.89% at 3,152.26.
The index recovered much of the ground it lost on September 15 when the mainland benchmark index lost 3.5%.
In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng index also ended the day higher, up 2.38% at 21,966.66.
Investors shrugged off news that shares in China’s largest brokerage, Citic Securities, had fallen as much as 4%.
Photo Reuters/China Daily
The share fall came after it was announced three of the company’s executives, including its president, were under police investigation for suspected insider trading and “leaking” inside information.
Elsewhere, investors continued to remain cautious ahead of a decision by the Federal Reserve on whether or not it will raise US interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended up 0.8% at 18,171.60.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index closed 1.6% higher at 5,098.90, also recovering from yesterday’s losses.
South Korean shares were up despite tensions in the region, the benchmark Kospi index finished 2% higher at 1,975.45.
Japan’s stock market closes up almost 8% on September 9 in its biggest one-day jump since late 2008.
Nikkei 225 index closed up 7.71% at 18,770.51 points.
On September 8, the benchmark index saw all the gains it had made this year wiped out.
Remarks by newly re-elected PM Shinzo Abe suggesting company tax cuts were on the way helped the mood.
Also positive were September 8 rebound for US shares and an improving Chinese share market.
Investor sentiment was up across the rest of Asia.
Tuesday’s weak economic data from China has also raised hopes of more stimulus for that economy and its markets.
Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng index finished up 4.1% at 22,131.31 – marking its biggest one-day percentage gain in almost four years.
China’s government said on September 9 that it would strengthen fiscal policy, boost infrastructure spending and speed up reform of its tax system to support the economy.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite closed up 2.3% at 3,243.09 – moving into positive territory for the year.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 closed up 2.07% at 5,221.10, taking its lead from US markets.
Analysts said resource and commodity shares, together with some of the big bank stocks, had buoyed the Australian index.
Numbers out on September 9 showed consumer confidence slid in September which led to revived hopes of another rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
South Korea’s Kospi benchmark index also closed up 2.96% at 1,934.20 points. Official data released on September 9 showed the country’s latest unemployment figures for August sitting at their lowest since January this year.
Japanese markets show a little change after PM Shinzo Abe was given a vote of confidence for his economic policy known as “Abenomics”.
As widely predicted, Shinzo Abe has won a majority in parliament’s upper house in Sunday’s elections, according to exit polls.
After climbing 1.2% in early trading, the benchmark Nikkei 225 fell back to be level for the day at about 14,590.
Analysts said the outcome had already been factored into trading strategies.
Since becoming prime minister late last year, Shinzo Abe has introduced policies aimed at ending long-running deflation in Japan and boosting growth.
“We’ve won the public’s support for decisive and stable politics so that we can pursue our economic policies, and we will make sure to live up to the expectations,” Shinzo Abe told public broadcaster NHK after he was projected to win.
Japanese markets show a little change after PM Shinzo Abe was given a vote of confidence for his economic policy
Analysts said Shinzo Abe could now work to implement painful economic reforms referred to as the “Third Arrow” of his set of policies. The first two arrows were an ultra-loose monetary policy and government spending.
“It raises expectations that legislation will pass more easily and he can focus on revitalizing the economy,” said Takuya Takahashi from Daiwa Securities.
Takuya Takahashi added that foreign investors were reacting positively to the prospect of Japan’s first stable government since 2006.
“The likelihood that there will be no national election for the next three years is positive,” he said.
“What investors are looking for is a stable government and they are watching how Abe can tackle deflation.”
Japan has seen much political upheaval because of a “twisted parliament” where the opposition had control of the upper house.
NHK said early on Monday that Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic party and its coalition partner had won a comfortable majority in the chamber.
Shinzo Abe’s policies so far have been well received by investors, with the Nikkei up about 40% this year.
The yen has also weakened in value about 15%, making exporters more profitable.
Analysts said whether the gains in the Nikkei can be extended depends on whether the dramatic structural reforms will go ahead.
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