• Most Popular
  • Most Shared

Nikkei gains as techs, banks, trading houses rise

Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:14am EST

Stocks

   

* Nikkei up on short-covering, buoyed by Wall St gains

Stocks  |  Japan

* But 10,000 resistance seen strong, next target 10,200

* Techs up after gains by U.S. peers

By Elaine Lies

TOKYO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose 1.3 percent on Tuesday, buoyed by Wall Street's gains as interest in risk-taking rose, with Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T) and other trading firms up reflecting climbs in oil, gold and other commodities prices.

Tokyo Electron (8035.T) and other chip-related shares climbed following gains by their U.S. peers, after the Dow rose to a 13-month high and other Wall Street indexes gained after the Group of 20 pledged to keep aid flowing to the world economy, encouraging investor appetite for risk.

But analysts said long-term uncertainty was likely to keep a lid on gains in Japan.

"Things are definitely getting brighter for the short term, but over the longer term there's quite a lot of uncertainty that's preventing rises in Japanese stocks," said Hiroichi Nishi, general manager at the equity division of Nikko Cordial Securities.

"Will there be more government bond issuance? Will the yen continue to rise? And what sort of policies can we expect from the government?"

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 gained 128.68 points to 9,937.67 by midafternoon. The broader Topix , which is not as heavily tech-centred, rose 0.8 percent to 878.00.

Analysts said the Nikkei faces resistance around 10,000, just about where the 25-day moving average comes in, but if it gains upward momentum it could quickly punch through that level.

The next key technical level is 10,200, which is where the Nikkei's 75-day moving average comes in, said Kenichi Hirano at Tachibana Securities.

As shown by the Wall Street gains, risk appetite was fed by the G20's weekend pledge to keep emergency measures in place until recovery was assured, raising expectations for prolonged low interest rates.

RISK-TAKING, BUT NOT JAPAN

"The market became more confident that the current ultra low interest rate policy will continue after the G20 meeting, giving investors more chance to take risks," said Shoji Yoshigoe, deputy general manager and senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities.

But appetite to invest in Japanese stocks could be limited, while investors may increase their weighting in Hong Kong or Indian shares, he added.

Chip-related shares climbed after gains in their U.S. peers sent the PHLX semiconductor index .SOXX up 3.2 percent.

Chip tester maker Advantest (6857.T) rose 3 percent to 2,040 yen and Tokyo Electron (8035.T) climbed 2.9 percent to 5,000 yen. Nikon (7731.T), which makes steppers, machines used to produce semiconductor chips, rose 1.7 percent to 1,701 yen.

Trading houses advanced after gains in a broad range of commodities on Monday that saw oil rise more than 2 percent on supply disruption and gold hit a record high of $1,110.85 an ounce. Other metals also gained.

Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T), Japan's largest trading house, rose 1.1 percent to 2,010 yen and Mitsui & Co (8031.T) gained 2.1 percent to 1,193 yen. Itochu Corp (8001.T) rose 4.5 percent to 607 yen.

Toshiba Corp (6502.T) rose 1.2 percent to 522 yen, having pared earlier gains, after it made a solo bid for French nuclear reactor builder Areva's (CEPFi.PA) transmission and distribution (T&D) business. [ID:nL9177274]

Banks rose after comments from Japan's banking minister suggesting Japan might not strictly enforce capital requirements for banks.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T) rose 3.5 percent to 507 yen and No. 3 bank Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T) rose 3.9 percent to 3,180 yen. (Additional reporting by Chikafumi Hodo; Editing by Chris Gallagher)



More from Reuters

Photo

Voicing some optimism, Fed leaves policy on hold

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday seized on easing U.S. job losses to voice growing optimism on the economy's prospects, but repeated a vow to keep interest rates unusually low for "an extended period." | Video

An an exit sign is pictured in New York City October 14, 2006.  REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Interview:

No stimulus exit in sight

The man who predicted the fallout from the property bubble says it's still too early to talk about exiting easy money policies. In fact, more stimulus is on the way.  Full Article 

A long-range, improved Sejil 2 missile is test-fired in the desert at an unknown location in Iran in this Iranian military handout distributed by Fars news agency on December 16, 2009.

Iran tests upgraded missile

Hardline rulers send uncompromising signals to foes at home and abroad, testing a missile that could reach Israel and warning of legal action against opposition leaders.  Full Article | Video