The Nikkei Average has been trading ¥687 higher. With announcements from the US FOMC, ECB and Bank of Japan ahead, caution over further gains has been evident.
As of 1:50 p.m., the Nikkei Average was up ¥687. Advantest, Tokyo Electron and SoftBank Group were among the top positive contributors, while Konami Group, Nitto Denko and Bandai Namco Holdings were negative contributors. By sector, glass and ceramics products, electric appliances, nonferrous metals, machinery, and metal products rose, while insurance, foods, oil and coal products, fisheries, agriculture and forestry, and land transportation posted the largest declines.
With important announcements ahead, the market is expected to remain cautious about further gains. Some market participants want to assess the outcome of the US FOMC meeting, the European Central Bank's policy rate announcement and the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting announcement.