The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.17 per cent, or 50.72 points, at 29,439.22 in early trade, while the broader Topix index gained 0.14 per cent, or 2.73 points, to 1,926.68. — AFP picTOKYO, Feb 9 ― Tokyo stocks opened higher today, tracking Wall Street gains on hopes for additional stimulus and as Japan prepared to start its coronavirus vaccination campaign.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.17 per cent, or 50.72 points, at 29,439.22 in early trade, while the broader Topix index gained 0.14 per cent, or 2.73 points, to 1,926.68. “Japanese shares are seen supported by US gains,” Okasan Online Securities chief strategist Yoshihiro Ito said.This is supporting the market along with hopes for further US economic stimulus and the positive effect of Japan's own virus rescue package, analysts said.
SoftBank Group was down 0.32 per cent at ¥1,414 on profit-taking after it said net profit rocketed to US$11.1 billion in the third quarter, as stock rallies and asset sales helped solidify its recovery. Renesas rallied 3.49 per cent to ¥1,245 after it confirmed late yesterday it will acquire its German-British competitor Dialog, a semiconductor specialist and Apple supplier, in a US$5.9 billion deal.On Wall Street, the Dow ended up 0.8 per cent at 31,385.76. ― AFP