TOKYO – Tokyo stocks opened higher today as market sentiment improved following another record close on Wall Street.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.15%, or 46.37 points, to 30,338.56, while the broader Topix index was marginally higher, inching up 0.38 points to 1,961.87.
“Japanese shares are seen rebounding after the Dow in New York hit a third straight record,” said Yoshihiro Ito, chief strategist at Okasan Online Securities, in a commentary.
The dollar fetched ¥105.77 (RM4.03) in early trade, against ¥105.86 in New York.
Honda dipped 0.68% to ¥3,067 after reports said the carmaker is planning to announce that Toshihiro Mibe, currently head of research and development, will be promoted to chief executive, while Takahiro Hachigo will step down as CEO.
A Honda spokesman declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
Among other shares, Takeda Pharmaceutical climbed 1.70% to ¥3,776 and Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast Retailing rallied 4.24% to ¥107,000, while Sony was down 0.53% at ¥12,135.
On Wall Street, the Dow ended up 0.3% at 31,613.02, while the broad-based S&P was flat and the tech-rich Nasdaq slipped 0.6% at the close. – AFP, February 18, 2021