The Nikkei Average ended the morning session at ¥66,445.13, extending its gains, narrowing its losses and returning to positive territory. Trading volume is estimated at more than 900 million shares.
During the morning session, the Nikkei Average, lacking clear catalysts with U.S. markets closed, narrowed its losses from a temporary sharp decline following the reaction to its rebound and returned to positive territory. The morning session opened at ¥65,843.69, and firm downside support was evident toward the afternoon session.
Among individual stocks, gains were seen in several issues, including SoftBank Group, Advantest, Fast Retailing and Nintendo, while information and communications and oil-related sectors also attracted buying. TDK, Murata Manufacturing, Toyota and Sony Group, meanwhile, declined.
The afternoon session is expected to trade in a narrow range around the morning closing level, and some market participants believe active trading is likely to be restrained in response to developments in U.S. markets. Oil-related stocks continue to receive support from higher crude oil prices, although export-related stocks are also facing selling pressure as the yen strengthened temporarily to the ¥152 range.