TOKYO, Apr 4 (AFP): Tokyo investors will be looking to the Bank of
Japan's policy meeting next week for signs of further stimulus measures,
a year after policymakers unleashed an unprecedented easing campaign to
stoke the economy.
Brokers said investor sentiment was upbeat, but many were keeping to the sidelines ahead of the release of key US jobs data later Friday.
"We can't predict the situation for the Tokyo stock market next week before seeing results of (US) March payroll figures, but I would say the current positive sentiment is expected to continue for now," said Shunichi Umeda, a broker at Tokai Tokyo Securities.
Investors and analysts are widely expecting the Bank of Japan (BoJ) to maintain its current monetary easing policy when its policymakers meet on Monday and Tuesday.
But investors are waiting to see if BoJ chief Haruhiko Kuroda gives signs of future easing as policymakers watch the impact of Japan's first sales tax rise in 17 years, which came into effect Tuesday.
"Attention will be paid to the Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting next week as market expectations of fresh measures are growing," Umeda said.
On Friday, the Nikkei-225 index edged down 0.05 percent, or 8.11 points, to 15,063.77, while it rose 2.50 percent over the week.
The broader Topix index of all first-section shares slipped 0.07 percent, or 0.88 points, to 1,215.89. It also rose over the week, tacking on about 2.50 percent.
The Friday jobs report was expected to give a clearer idea about the US recovery than recent readings, which were skewed by severe winter weather at the turn of the year.
While a strong figure will be welcomed, there are fears that too-good numbers could prompt the Federal Reserve to speed up tapering of its stimulus regime.
Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, said: "Solid jobs data is welcome, but numbers too robust may spark fears that the Fed may actually accelerate stimulus tapering." That could result in "another roiling effect", he said.
The US Federal Reserve's decision to start winding down its stimulus programme and fears of capital flight triggered sell-offs in emerging markets earlier this year.
On forex markets the dollar bought 103.87 yen, against 103.94 yen in New York Thursday.
In stocks trading, Sony rose 0.15 percent to 1,994 yen, Toyota fell 0.82 percent to 5,792 yen and Nissan rose 0.85 percent to 947 yen.
Brokers said investor sentiment was upbeat, but many were keeping to the sidelines ahead of the release of key US jobs data later Friday.
"We can't predict the situation for the Tokyo stock market next week before seeing results of (US) March payroll figures, but I would say the current positive sentiment is expected to continue for now," said Shunichi Umeda, a broker at Tokai Tokyo Securities.
Investors and analysts are widely expecting the Bank of Japan (BoJ) to maintain its current monetary easing policy when its policymakers meet on Monday and Tuesday.
But investors are waiting to see if BoJ chief Haruhiko Kuroda gives signs of future easing as policymakers watch the impact of Japan's first sales tax rise in 17 years, which came into effect Tuesday.
"Attention will be paid to the Bank of Japan's monetary policy meeting next week as market expectations of fresh measures are growing," Umeda said.
On Friday, the Nikkei-225 index edged down 0.05 percent, or 8.11 points, to 15,063.77, while it rose 2.50 percent over the week.
The broader Topix index of all first-section shares slipped 0.07 percent, or 0.88 points, to 1,215.89. It also rose over the week, tacking on about 2.50 percent.
The Friday jobs report was expected to give a clearer idea about the US recovery than recent readings, which were skewed by severe winter weather at the turn of the year.
While a strong figure will be welcomed, there are fears that too-good numbers could prompt the Federal Reserve to speed up tapering of its stimulus regime.
Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, said: "Solid jobs data is welcome, but numbers too robust may spark fears that the Fed may actually accelerate stimulus tapering." That could result in "another roiling effect", he said.
The US Federal Reserve's decision to start winding down its stimulus programme and fears of capital flight triggered sell-offs in emerging markets earlier this year.
On forex markets the dollar bought 103.87 yen, against 103.94 yen in New York Thursday.
In stocks trading, Sony rose 0.15 percent to 1,994 yen, Toyota fell 0.82 percent to 5,792 yen and Nissan rose 0.85 percent to 947 yen.
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