The Nikkei 225 extends its gains. Buying led by high-priced stocks got underway following gains in U.S. semiconductor stocks, while the afternoon session took on a wait-and-see tone ahead of the Bank of Japan meeting results.
The Nikkei 225 began trading on the 19th at ¥64,681.55, up ¥545.30 from the previous day, with buying led by AI-related and semiconductor-related stocks. Gains in U.S. semiconductor stocks and a pause in the rise in crude oil prices and long-term interest rates provided support, while a wait-and-see stance also strengthened ahead of the release of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting results.
Among individual stocks, Advantest, Tokyo Electron, Lasertec, SCREEN Holdings and DISCO were bought, while AI-related stocks including SoftBank Group, Ibiden, Kioxia Holdings and Fujikura also pushed up the index. Electronic component makers Murata Manufacturing, TDK, Taiyo Yuden and Kyocera also attracted buying.
Meanwhile, domestic-demand and defensive stocks, as well as trading houses, were generally weak, with Fast Retailing, Nitori Holdings, KDDI and Recruit Holdings sold. Medical equipment makers Terumo and Olympus, game-related companies Konami Group, Nintendo and Sony Group, general trading companies ITOCHU and Toyota Tsusho, air-conditioning maker Daikin Industries, and food company Kikkoman also fell.
Of the 33 sectors on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, 27 declined, while gains were concentrated in electric appliances and nonferrous metals. The afternoon session could see larger price swings following the Bank of Japan meeting results, with market expectations regarding the pace of additional rate hikes emerging as a key focus.