By Reuters Staff
(Updates with index close)
TOKYO, April 14 (Reuters) - Japanese shares ended lower on Wednesday, weighed down by cyclicals, as a resurgence in COVID-19 cases cast doubts over prospects of economic rebound, while falling interest rates dragged on banking and insurer stocks.
The Nikkei share average slipped 0.44% to close at 29,620.99, while the broader Topix ended 0.33% lower at 1,952.18.
“The expectations for the reopening of the economy shrank because rollouts of vaccines in Japan is much slower than other countries, while the number of new COVID-19 cases is on the rise,” said Shoichi Arisawa, general manager of the investment research department at IwaiCosmo Securities.
By Reuters Staff
(Updates to close)
TOKYO, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Japanese shares ended higher on Thursday, with the Nikkei touching a 30-year peak, powered by financials as U.S. bond yields climbed on expectations of larger stimulus following a Democrat sweep in two Senate runoffs in Georgia.
The Nikkei average closed 1.60% higher at 27,490.13, hitting its highest level since August 1990 at one point during the session and snapping a four-day losing streak.
The broader Topix added 1.68% to 1,826.30, climbing above a peak hit late last year to reach its highest level since October 2018.
Investor appetite was not dented by the chaos in Washington D.C. after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed Capitol Hill, forcing Congress to suspend a session to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.