Japan’s Nikkei ends at near 3-week high on Wall Street gains, trading firms jump

[TOKYO] Japan’s Nikkei share average ended at a nearly three-week high on Tuesday (Mar 18), tracking Wall Street’s overnight gains, driven by trading firms.

The Nikkei index rose 1.2 per cent to 37,845.42, its highest close since February 27, in a third straight session of gains.

The broader Topix rose 1.29 per cent to 2,783.56.

“Investors were relieved to see some positive cues, such as Wall Street’s gains and a rally of domestic trading houses, but the overall situation has not changed,” said Yusuke Sakai, a senior trader at T&D Asset Management.

“The possible impact of the (US President Donald Trump’s) tariff policy weighs on the sentiment,” Sakai said.

US stocks gained for a second straight session on Monday, as investors sought bargains after Nasdaq’s and the S&P 500’s four-week tumble and assessed the latest economic data to gauge the impact of the Trump administration’s policies.

In Japan, trading firms jumped after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway raised its holdings in five Japanese trading houses.

Mitsui & Co rose 3.08 per cent and Mitsubishi Corp climbed 3.61 per cent.

Uniqlo-owner Fast Retailing rose 1.1 per cent and chip-testing equipment maker Advantest jumped 2.76 per cent.

Earlier in the day, the Nikkei crossed 38,000 level for the first time since February 27, hitting 38,004.2 but failed to keep that level throughout the day.

Investors were not confident about the market outlook, said Shuutarou Yasuda, a market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory.

“It’s just that their worries about the US tariff impact and the US economic outlook were partially removed. They were not bullish about the market yet, which is why investors sold stocks as the Nikkei rose close to the 38,000 level,” said Yasuda.

Defence-related shares, which had rallied on expectations for more defence spending, fell, with IHI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries slipping 4.65 per cent and 2.48 per cent, respectively. REUTERS