Markets react as BOJ moves to sell ETFs and J REITsThe Bank of Japan voted to begin selling portions of...

Japan stocks hit all-time high after prime minister steps down  Financial Times

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 1.62% to hit a new all time high. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Mazda Motor Corp (TYO:7261), which rose 7.15% or 78.50 points to trade at 1,176.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Resonac Holdings Corp (TYO:4004) added 5.81% or 229.00 points to end at 4,173.00 and IHI Corp. (TYO:7013) was up 5.00% or 755.00 points to 15,855.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Keyence (TYO:6861), which fell 1.41% or 800.00 points to trade at 55,890.00 at the close. SMC Corp (TYO:6273) declined 1.23% or 550.00 points to end at 44,230.00 and Sapporo Holdings Ltd. (TYO:2501) was down 1.13% or 84.00 points to 7,378.00. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2606 to 972 and 271 ended unchanged. Shares in Mazda Motor Corp (TYO:7261) rose to 52-week highs; rising 7.15% or 78.50 to 1,176.00. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 1.89% to 24.32. Crude oil for October delivery was up 1.73% or 1.07 to $62.94 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in November rose 1.69% or 1.11 to hit $66.61 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract fell 0.41% or 15.08 to trade at $3,638.22 a troy ounce. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. USD/JPY was up 0.28% to 147.82, while EUR/JPY rose 0.34% to 173.33. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.05% at 97.68. The best opportunities often hide in plain sight—buried among thousands of stocks you'd never have time to research individually. That's why smart investors use our Stock Screener with 50+ predefined screens and 160+ customizable filters to surface hidden gems instantly. For example, the Piotroski's Picks method averages 23% annual returns by focusing on financial strength, and you can get it as a standalone screen. Momentum Masters catches stocks gaining serious traction, while Blue-Chip Bargains finds undervalued giants. With screens for dividends, growth, value, and more, you'll discover opportunities others miss. Our current favorite screen is Under $10/share, which is great for discovering stocks trading under $10 with recent price momentum showing some very impressive returns!

Yen Falls, Japan’s Stocks Gain as Ishiba to Depart: Markets Wrap  Energy Connects

Japan stocks rally, yen slides as PM Ishiba’s resignation sparks fiscal jitters  Investing.com

Yen Falls, Japan’s Stocks Rise as Ishiba to Depart: Markets Wrap  Bloomberg

Investing.com-- Japanese stocks surged on Monday, while the yen weakened sharply after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation sparked heightened uncertainty over the country’s fiscal outlook. The Nikkei 225 benchmark rose 1.8% and was back near record highs hit in mid-August. The broader TOPIX index rose 0.9%. The yen’s USD/JPY pair, which gauges the amount of yen required to purchase one dollar, surged 0.7% to 148.44 yen in morning trade. Weakness in the yen came despite a substantially softer dollar. Stock gains and losses in the yen were driven chiefly by bets that heightened political uncertainty in Japan will keep the Bank of Japan from hiking interest rates anytime soon. While the central bank has maintained a somewhat hawkish stance, especially amid sticky domestic inflation, it has not hiked rates since January this year on uncertainty over the Japanese economy. This uncertainty rose sharply on Sunday after Ishiba announced his resignation, taking responsibility for a crushing July election loss suffered by his Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition. Ishiba also signaled that his resignation was timed to come after Japan had secured a trade deal with the United States. The prime minister’s resignation heralds a period of political uncertainty for Japan, with markets now watching for whether Ishiba will be replaced with a less fiscally conservative candidate. LDP veteran Sanae Takaichi, who is among the potential candidates considered for prime minister, has repeatedly criticized the BOJ’s rate hikes, while other potential candidates have also called for more fiscal spending and lower interest rates. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. Still, revised gross domestic product data released on Monday showed the Japanese economy grew more than initially estimated in the second quarter. AI computing powers are changing the stock market. Investing.com's ProPicks AI includes dozens of winning stock portfolios chosen by our advanced AI. Year to date, 3 out of 4 global portfolios are beating their benchmark indexes, with 98% in the green. Our flagship Tech Titans strategy doubled the S&P 500 within 18 months, including notable winners like Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%). Which stock will be the next to soar?

Japan Stocks Rise as 15% Trump Tariff Deal Sealed Brings Relief  Yahoo Finance

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 1.09%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd (TYO:4506), which rose 10.56% or 173.00 points to trade at 1,811.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Konica Minolta, Inc. (TYO:4902) added 6.05% or 31.10 points to end at 544.80 and Nikon Corp. (TYO:7731) was up 5.79% or 93.00 points to 1,700.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO:9064), which fell 3.13% or 80.00 points to trade at 2,477.00 at the close. Taisei Corp. (TYO:1801) declined 2.32% or 237.00 points to end at 9,983.00 and Mercari Inc (TYO:4385) was down 2.04% or 49.00 points to 2,351.00. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2339 to 1242 and 256 ended unchanged. Shares in Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd (TYO:4506) rose to 3-years highs; gaining 10.56% or 173.00 to 1,811.00. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 3.44% to 23.87. Crude oil for October delivery was down 0.52% or 0.33 to $63.15 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in November fell 0.40% or 0.27 to hit $66.72 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.11% or 4.05 to trade at $3,610.75 a troy ounce. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. USD/JPY was down 0.18% to 148.21, while EUR/JPY fell 0.02% to 172.94. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.22% at 98.09. Which stock should you buy in your very next trade? AI computing powers are changing the stock market. Investing.com's ProPicks AI includes dozens of winning stock portfolios chosen by our advanced AI. Year to date, 3 out of 4 global portfolios are beating their benchmark indexes, with 98% in the green. Our flagship Tech Titans strategy doubled the S&P 500 within 18 months, including notable winners like Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%). Which stock will be the next to soar?

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 1.48%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984), which rose 6.45% or 940.00 points to trade at 15,510.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803) added 5.12% or 640.00 points to end at 13,140.00 and Advantest Corp. (TYO:6857) was up 4.72% or 505.00 points to 11,200.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Nidec Corp (TYO:6594), which fell 22.44% or 700.00 points to trade at 2,420.00 at the close. Keyence (TYO:6861) declined 2.05% or 1,180.00 points to end at 56,470.00 and Sapporo Holdings Ltd. (TYO:2501) was down 1.93% or 147.00 points to 7,466.00. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2262 to 1299 and 269 ended unchanged. Shares in Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803) rose to all time highs; gaining 5.12% or 640.00 to 13,140.00. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 4.30% to 24.72. Crude oil for October delivery was down 1.36% or 0.87 to $63.10 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in November fell 1.27% or 0.86 to hit $66.74 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract fell 1.14% or 41.58 to trade at $3,593.92 a troy ounce. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. USD/JPY was up 0.05% to 148.18, while EUR/JPY rose 0.02% to 172.75. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.08% at 98.16. The best opportunities often hide in plain sight—buried among thousands of stocks you'd never have time to research individually. That's why smart investors use our Stock Screener with 50+ predefined screens and 160+ customizable filters to surface hidden gems instantly. For example, the Piotroski's Picks method averages 23% annual returns by focusing on financial strength, and you can get it as a standalone screen. Momentum Masters catches stocks gaining serious traction, while Blue-Chip Bargains finds undervalued giants. With screens for dividends, growth, value, and more, you'll discover opportunities others miss. Our current favorite screen is Under $10/share, which is great for discovering stocks trading under $10 with recent price momentum showing some very impressive returns!

Japan’s Stocks Rally as Mood Lifted by Bond Market Calm, US Tech  Bloomberg

Japan Stocks Set for Weak Open as Ishiba’s Key Ally Plans Exit  Bloomberg.com

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Tuesday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.35%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. (TYO:3099), which rose 5.93% or 149.50 points to trade at 2,670.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO:2503) added 5.38% or 116.50 points to end at 2,280.00 and Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co. (TYO:5706) was up 4.80% or 490.00 points to 10,705.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Mercari Inc (TYO:4385), which fell 4.79% or 121.50 points to trade at 2,413.50 at the close. Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (TYO:5801) declined 3.42% or 303.00 points to end at 8,559.00 and Nikon Corp. (TYO:7731) was down 2.29% or 39.00 points to 1,661.00. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2110 to 1470 and 258 ended unchanged. Shares in Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co. (TYO:5706) rose to all time highs; up 4.80% or 490.00 to 10,705.00. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 8.76% to 24.22. Crude oil for October delivery was up 0.93% or 0.60 to $65.21 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in November rose 0.81% or 0.55 to hit $68.70 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.30% or 10.60 to trade at $3,556.40 a troy ounce. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. USD/JPY was up 0.52% to 147.97, while EUR/JPY rose 0.49% to 173.22. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.12% at 97.72. Which stock should you buy in your very next trade? AI computing powers are changing the stock market. Investing.com's ProPicks AI includes dozens of winning stock portfolios chosen by our advanced AI. Year to date, 3 out of 4 global portfolios are beating their benchmark indexes, with 98% in the green. Our flagship Tech Titans strategy doubled the S&P 500 within 18 months, including notable winners like Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%). Which stock will be the next to soar?

Investing.com – Japan stocks were lower after the close on Monday, as losses in the Paper & Pulp, Transport and Communication sectors led shares lower. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.22%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Olympus Corp. (TYO:7733), which rose 4.64% or 80.00 points to trade at 1,802.50 at the close. Meanwhile, Dentsu Inc. (TYO:4324) added 3.59% or 105.00 points to end at 3,029.00 and Eisai Co., Ltd. (TYO:4523) was up 3.55% or 161.00 points to 4,699.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Advantest Corp. (TYO:6857), which fell 7.92% or 925.00 points to trade at 10,750.00 at the close. Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (TYO:5801) declined 5.46% or 512.00 points to end at 8,862.00 and SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984) was down 4.81% or 780.00 points to 15,450.00. Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1895 to 1709 and 241 ended unchanged. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 2.24% to 22.27 a new 1-month low. Crude oil for October delivery was up 0.22% or 0.14 to $64.15 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in November rose 0.18% or 0.12 to hit $67.60 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.85% or 29.82 to trade at $3,545.92 a troy ounce. USD/JPY was down 0.05% to 146.98, while EUR/JPY rose 0.29% to 172.33. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.15% at 97.55. The best opportunities often hide in plain sight—buried among thousands of stocks you'd never have time to research individually. That's why smart investors use our Stock Screener with 50+ predefined screens and 160+ customizable filters to surface hidden gems instantly. For example, the Piotroski's Picks method averages 23% annual returns by focusing on financial strength, and you can get it as a standalone screen. Momentum Masters catches stocks gaining serious traction, while Blue-Chip Bargains finds undervalued giants. With screens for dividends, growth, value, and more, you'll discover opportunities others miss. Our current favorite screen is Under $10/share, which is great for discovering stocks trading under $10 with recent price momentum showing some very impressive returns!

Investing.com-- Japanese equities are poised to benefit from fading trade-related risks after Tokyo and Washington agreed to a reciprocal tariff framework in July, Morgan Stanley analysts said in a research note. The July 22 agreement on a 15% tariff sharply reduced uncertainty that had weighed on investor positioning, particularly in the auto sector, analysts said. “We believe that the distortions in investor positioning caused by tariff concerns over the past several months will gradually unwind,” analysts wrote. First-quarter earnings for Japanese firms were stronger than expected, with recurring profit falling 8% year-on-year but beating consensus by more than 10%, the bank noted. Sectors including foods, pharmaceuticals, utilities, and transportation look attractively valued, while banks, energy and machinery appear relatively expensive, it added. Morgan Stanley screened for stocks likely to gain from the shift, highlighting names such as Nissin Foods (TYO:2897), Sysmex (TYO:6869), Olympus Corp. (TYO:7733) and Japan Airlines (TYO:9201), while cautioning on more expensive sectors like retail and financials. Analysts said they favour large-cap, liquid stocks with recurring profit performance above guidance. Morgan Stanley expects upward earnings revisions to support consensus EPS and provide a tailwind for Japanese equities, saying that easing policy headwinds and resilient technology demand should underpin the market in the second half of 2025. ProPicks AI evaluates 7733 alongside thousands of other companies every month using 100+ financial metrics. Using powerful AI to generate exciting stock ideas, it looks beyond popularity to assess fundamentals, momentum, and valuation. The AI has no bias—it simply identifies which stocks offer the best risk-reward based on current data with notable past winners that include Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%). Want to know if 7733 is currently featured in any ProPicks AI strategies, or if there are better opportunities in the same space?

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.76%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803), which rose 5.52% or 645.00 points to trade at 12,320.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Inpex Corp. (TYO:1605) added 4.33% or 105.00 points to end at 2,532.50 and Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (TYO:6770) was up 4.28% or 75.00 points to 1,828.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Nikon Corp. (TYO:7731), which fell 4.27% or 74.50 points to trade at 1,672.00 at the close. Fujitsu Ltd. (TYO:6702) declined 2.84% or 102.00 points to end at 3,490.00 and Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:5541) was down 2.38% or 49.00 points to 2,010.00. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1926 to 1676 and 239 ended unchanged. Shares in Inpex Corp. (TYO:1605) rose to 52-week highs; up 4.33% or 105.00 to 2,532.50. Shares in Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (TYO:6770) rose to 5-year highs; up 4.28% or 75.00 to 1,828.00. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 2.25% to 23.49. Crude oil for October delivery was down 0.84% or 0.54 to $63.61 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in November fell 0.42% or 0.28 to hit $66.93 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.50% or 17.10 to trade at $3,450.10 a troy ounce. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. USD/JPY was down 0.07% to 147.32, while EUR/JPY fell 0.01% to 171.60. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.06% at 98.04. Successful investors know to check multiple angles before making their move. InvestingPro's three powerful features work together to give you that edge: ProPicks AI runs 80+ stock-picking strategies, including Tech Titans, which doubled the S&P 500's performance in just 18 months! Fair Value combines 17 proven valuation models to help you spot overpriced stocks and undervalued gems. And WarrenAI delivers instant insights on any stock. Ask questions, get vetted answers backed by real-time data (unlike ChatGPT). Our subscribers use all three to identify stocks before double-digit gains and avoid costly mistakes. But with 50% during our Summer Sale, even if you only use one of these features the value pays for itself. Sale ends soon—don't wait until prices go back up.

Foreigners snap Japanese stock purchases as tech rally cools  Reuters

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.43%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were TOTO Ltd. (TYO:5332), which rose 8.39% or 316.00 points to trade at 4,084.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co. (TYO:5706) added 5.78% or 538.00 points to end at 9,848.00 and Nidec Corp (TYO:6594) was up 5.51% or 171.00 points to 3,275.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Takara Holdings Inc. (TYO:2531), which fell 4.35% or 78.50 points to trade at 1,727.50 at the close. Terumo Corp. (TYO:4543) declined 4.04% or 110.50 points to end at 2,628.00 and Konami Corp. (TYO:9766) was down 3.66% or 890.00 points to 23,455.00. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2207 to 1419 and 233 ended unchanged. Shares in Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co. (TYO:5706) rose to 5-year highs; up 5.78% or 538.00 to 9,848.00. Shares in Nidec Corp (TYO:6594) rose to 52-week highs; up 5.51% or 171.00 to 3,275.00. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 0.20% to 25.11. Crude oil for October delivery was up 0.20% or 0.13 to $63.79 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in November rose 0.15% or 0.10 to hit $67.32 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract fell 0.16% or 5.60 to trade at $3,412.90 a troy ounce. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. USD/JPY was up 0.15% to 147.17, while EUR/JPY rose 0.14% to 172.41. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.09% at 97.68. The fastest way to find out is with our Fair Value calculator. We use a mix of 17 proven industry valuation models for maximum accuracy. Get the bottom line for 4543 plus thousands of other stocks and find your next hidden gem with massive upside. Full access now available at 50% off while our Summer Sale lasts. Hurry, offer ends soon!

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.02%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Takara Holdings Inc. (TYO:2531), which rose 4.48% or 77.50 points to trade at 1,806.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Rakuten Inc (TYO:4755) added 3.39% or 29.60 points to end at 903.70 and Mazda Motor Corp (TYO:7261) was up 3.23% or 31.50 points to 1,006.50 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were M3 Inc (TYO:2413), which fell 4.09% or 96.00 points to trade at 2,252.00 at the close. West Japan Railway Co. (TYO:9021) declined 3.71% or 128.00 points to end at 3,318.00 and Shiseido Co., Ltd. (TYO:4911) was down 2.54% or 64.50 points to 2,471.00. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2210 to 1384 and 252 ended unchanged. Shares in Takara Holdings Inc. (TYO:2531) rose to 5-year highs; up 4.48% or 77.50 to 1,806.00. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 0.36% to 25.06. Crude oil for October delivery was up 0.16% or 0.10 to $63.62 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in October rose 0.07% or 0.05 to hit $67.72 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract fell 0.23% or 7.90 to trade at $3,373.70 a troy ounce. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. USD/JPY was up 0.11% to 148.53, while EUR/JPY rose 0.09% to 172.24. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.12% at 98.63. Should you invest $2,000 in 7261 right now? With 7261 making headlines, savvy investors are asking: Is it truly valued fairly? In a market full of overpriced darlings, identifying true value can be challenging. InvestingPro's advanced AI algorithms have analyzed 7261 alongside thousands of other stocks to uncover hidden gems. These undervalued stocks, potentially including 7261, could offer substantial returns as the market corrects. In 2024 alone, our AI identified several undervalued stocks that later surged by 30 or more. Is 7261 poised for similar growth? Don't miss the opportunity to find out.

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.77% to hit a new all time high. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Suzuki Motor Corp. (TYO:7269), which rose 10.20% or 182.00 points to trade at 1,966.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. (TYO:3099) added 7.79% or 185.50 points to end at 2,567.50 and CyberAgent Inc (TYO:4751) was up 7.67% or 130.00 points to 1,826.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TYO:9501), which fell 3.61% or 26.70 points to trade at 713.30 at the close. Lasertec Corp (TYO:6920) declined 3.33% or 580.00 points to end at 16,825.00 and SMC Corp (TYO:6273) was down 3.10% or 1,490.00 points to 46,640.00. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2566 to 1052 and 236 ended unchanged. Shares in Suzuki Motor Corp. (TYO:7269) rose to 3-years highs; rising 10.20% or 182.00 to 1,966.00. Shares in CyberAgent Inc (TYO:4751) rose to 3-years highs; rising 7.67% or 130.00 to 1,826.00. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 0.20% to 24.61. Crude oil for October delivery was up 0.44% or 0.27 to $62.25 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in October rose 0.27% or 0.18 to hit $66.03 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.36% or 12.10 to trade at $3,394.70 a troy ounce. USD/JPY was up 0.13% to 147.39, while EUR/JPY rose 0.12% to 172.40. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.05% at 97.76.

Investing.com – Japan stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the Paper & Pulp, Transport and Communication sectors led shares lower. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 declined 1.35%. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Nexon Co Ltd (TYO:3659), which rose 6.74% or 205.00 points to trade at 3,246.00 at the close. Meanwhile, SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984) added 4.40% or 655.00 points to end at 15,525.00 and Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (TYO:3863) was up 3.22% or 36.00 points to 1,154.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TYO:7011), which fell 5.69% or 234.00 points to trade at 3,876.00 at the close. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TYO:7012) declined 5.31% or 575.00 points to end at 10,255.00 and Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (TYO:5801) was down 5.10% or 441.00 points to 8,211.00. Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2111 to 1497 and 243 ended unchanged. Shares in Nexon Co Ltd (TYO:3659) rose to 52-week highs; up 6.74% or 205.00 to 3,246.00. Shares in SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984) rose to all time highs; up 4.40% or 655.00 to 15,525.00. Shares in Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (TYO:3863) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 3.22% or 36.00 to 1,154.00. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 0.65% to 24.50. Crude oil for September delivery was up 0.65% or 0.41 to $63.06 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in October rose 0.61% or 0.40 to hit $66.03 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.18% or 6.07 to trade at $3,414.37 a troy ounce. USD/JPY was down 0.69% to 146.40, while EUR/JPY fell 0.85% to 171.14. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.04% at 97.62. With valuations skyrocketing in 2024, many investors are uneasy putting more money into stocks. Unsure where to invest next? Get access to our proven portfolios and discover high-potential opportunities. In 2024 alone, ProPicks AI identified 2 stocks that surged over 150%, 4 additional stocks that leaped over 30%, and 3 more that climbed over 25%. That's an impressive track record. With portfolios tailored for Dow stocks, S&P stocks, Tech stocks, and Mid Cap stocks, you can explore various wealth-building strategies.

HONG KONG (Reuters) -Global hedge funds ramped up risk appetite and added exposure to Japanese equities ahead of the Nikkei’s surge to an all-time high as tariff worries eased, while stepping up short positions in South Korea, a Morgan Stanley note showed. Hedge funds boosted gross exposure to Japan "in relatively large size" last week, with long bets outpacing short positions, according to a Morgan Stanley prime brokerage team note sent to clients on Tuesday, following a July pullback in positions. A fund manager survey by BofA showed that within Asia, Japan continues to be the most favoured market by a significant margin. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei rose above 43,000 for the first time on Wednesday, with the broader Topix index also hitting an all-time high. Uncertainty over Japanese exports to the United States has eased after Tokyo reached a framework deal with Washington on tariffs in July, helping to push the market higher. The U.S. government last week promised to amend a presidential executive order to remove overlapping tariffs on Japanese goods, Japan’s trade negotiator said. Morgan Stanley said hedge funds built positions across Japan’s technology and industrial sectors. Shares of Nintendo soared to a historic high this week on robust sales of the Switch 2, while tech firm SoftBank (TYO:9984) Group also raced to an all-time high on optimism around artificial intelligence. In other Asian markets, hedge funds were buying Taiwan and Australia but increased bearish positions toward Korea last week, Morgan Stanley said. Hedge funds’ net allocations to South Korea at the beginning of August sat just under peak levels of the past decade, as investors significantly increased their long and short bets in the market since the country lifted short sale ban, Morgan Stanley said in a separate note. Flows into Chinese tech giants listed in Hong Kong, remained muted, as hedge funds awaited big tech earnings, Morgan Stanley added.

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Real Estate, Banking and Textile sectors led shares higher. At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 1.48% to hit a new all time high. The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd (TYO:5101), which rose 8.29% or 425.00 points to trade at 5,551.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TYO:9501) added 7.13% or 47.70 points to end at 716.30 and Renesas Electronics Corp (TYO:6723) was up 6.94% or 122.00 points to 1,880.00 in late trade. The worst performers of the session were DeNA Co Ltd (TYO:2432), which fell 2.48% or 57.50 points to trade at 2,262.50 at the close. Inpex Corp. (TYO:1605) declined 1.93% or 46.00 points to end at 2,342.00 and LY Corp (TYO:4689) was down 1.63% or 8.20 points to 494.80. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1908 to 1708 and 237 ended unchanged. Shares in Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd (TYO:5101) rose to all time highs; gaining 8.29% or 425.00 to 5,551.00. Shares in Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TYO:9501) rose to 52-week highs; up 7.13% or 47.70 to 716.30. The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was down 0.16% to 24.66. Crude oil for September delivery was down 0.05% or 0.03 to $63.14 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in October fell 0.02% or 0.01 to hit $66.11 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.16% or 5.42 to trade at $3,404.42 a troy ounce. USD/JPY was down 0.01% to 147.76, while EUR/JPY rose 0.12% to 172.81. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.17% at 97.76. With valuations skyrocketing in 2024, many investors are uneasy putting more money into stocks. Sure, there are always opportunities in the stock market – but finding them feels more difficult now than a year ago. Unsure where to invest next? One of the best ways to discover new high-potential opportunities is to look at the top performing portfolios this year. ProPicks AI offers 6 model portfolios from Investing.com which identify the best stocks for investors to buy right now. For example, ProPicks AI found 9 overlooked stocks that jumped over 25% this year alone. The new stocks that made the monthly cut could yield enormous returns in the coming years. Is 1605 one of them?