Japan's Nikkei slips on profit booking after BOJ decision

Reuters

Japan's Nikkei slips on profit booking after BOJ decision

2024 10월 31 일, 오전 5:31 GMT

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Updates at 0441 GMT

TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) -Japan's Nikkei share average index slipped on Thursday, as investors locked in their profits after the Bank of Japan kept key rates unchanged.

The Nikkei .N225 fell 1% at 38,875.78 as of 0441 GMT, after tracking the overnight declines in U.S. equities to open 0.25% lower.

The broader Topix .TOPX slipped 0.84% to 2,681.05.

The BOJ maintained ultra-low interest rates on Thursday and signalled the need to scrutinise global economic developments.

"Investors sold stocks to book profits after the big event was over," said Takamasa Ikeda, senior portfolio manager at GCI Asset Management.

"The Nikkei was a little bit overheated after a recent rally. The BOJ's decision was in line with expectations but it became a trigger for the sell-off."

The Nikkei rose to a two-week closing high on Wednesday.

Since peaking in July, it has been held hostage by a volatile yen JPY=, driven by expectations of a U.S. rate cut and the dollar. Still, the index has risen more than 17% this year.

Japan's markets have been hamstrung this week by political uncertainty after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the weekend election.

The make-up of the future government is in flux and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and the LDP may court smaller opposition parties that favour maintaining ultra-loose monetary policy and oppose plans to raise taxes.

Among stocks, Uniqlo-owner Fast Retailing 9983.T fell 1.5% and was the biggest drag on the Nikkei.

Kyocera 6971.T tanked 11.8% after the smartphone maker cut its full-year operating profit forecast for fiscal year 2025.

Chip-testing equipment maker Advantest6857.T jumped 6.7%.

Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Alan Barona, Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Sumana Nandy

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