Japan’s Nikkei ends flat, posts first annual loss in four years
The index dropped 9.4 per cent for the year, its first loss since 2018
Tokyo: Japan’s Nikkei index on Friday gave up early gains to end flat ahead of new year holidays, and posted its first yearly loss in four years.
The Nikkei closed flat at 26,094.50, after rising as much as 0.9 per cent earlier in the session driven by overnight gains on Wall Street. The index dropped 9.4 per cent for the year, its first loss since 2018.
The broader Topix reversed course to end 0.19 per cent lower at 1,891.71, falling 5 per cent for the year, its first loss in four years as well.
“Investors are worried there may be something happening in the US during the holiday. There are many uncertainties in overseas markets,” said Shoichi Arisawa, general manager of the investment research department at IwaiCosmo Securities.
Japanese market will reopen on Wednesday after new year holidays.
Fast Retailing, the owner of Uniqlo clothing brand, rose 1.94 per cent and technology investor SoftBank Group gained 0.46 per cent.
Shipping firms rose 1.23 per cent and were the best performers among the 33 industry sub-indexes on the Tokyo bourse.
Staffing agency Recruit Holdings fell 1.56 per cent. Drug maker Chugai Pharmaceutical fell 1.00 per cent.
Oil explorers dropped 1.33 per cent and were the worst performers among the sub-indexes. Refiners fell 1.02 per cent.
Of the Nikkei components, 91 stocks rose and 121 declined, while 13 were flat.
The volume of shares traded on the Tokyo bourse’s main board was 0.9 billion, compared to the average of 1.19 billion in the past 30 days.