The Nikkei Average continued to decline at the opening of the morning session in the Tokyo market on the 20th. It was trading in the ¥64,200 range, down around ¥600 from the previous day, with the decline temporarily exceeding ¥800. Declines in US equities, higher oil prices and rising interest rates in Europe and the US are weighing on the market.
The Nikkei Average continued to decline in the Tokyo stock market at the opening of the morning session on the 20th, trading in the ¥64,200 range. The decline exceeded ¥800 at one point during the day, with the index around ¥600 below the previous day's level.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell in the US market on the 19th, while US crude oil futures rose. Against a backdrop of pressure on investor sentiment, rising long-term interest rates in Europe and the US are also prompting selling as investors become more conscious of the relative expensiveness of equities.
The TOPIX also fell. Among individual stocks, Fujikura, Recruit and TDK declined, while Fast Retailing and Konami G rose, producing mixed movements across the market.
Market participants expect investors to remain risk-averse amid uncertainty over the situation in the Middle East, movements in the oil market and the impact of long-term US interest rates.