The Nikkei Average was up ¥30 as of 2:50 p.m. Stocks with high contributions and rising sectors stood out, while market attention is building ahead of the US economic indicators due for release tonight.
The Nikkei Average staged a modest rebound, with SoftBank Group, Recruit Holdings and Fast Retailing among the leading positive contributors, while Advantest, Tokyo Electron and Ibiden made negative contributions.
By sector, marine transportation, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, and air transportation posted the largest gains, while mining, securities and commodities futures, nonferrous metals, petroleum and coal products, and electric appliances posted the largest declines.
In the US, weekly initial jobless claims, August housing starts, the September Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index and the August pending home sales index are scheduled for release tonight, and market attention is expected to turn to these indicators.