【Fuji Tomi】 Nikkei average falls for the fourth day in a row as alertness grows amid Afghanistan explosion and Russian missile launch attack
The Nikkei stock average fell for the fourth straight session, ending at 19,650.57 yen, down 27.28 yen (0.14%) from the previous day. The yen strengthened on account of political instability in the U.S. and Europe, and early in the session the Nikkei futures were pressured by the higher yen. As markets approached the mid-price settlement before 10 a.m. and due to month-end factors, there was a slight shortage of dollars, leading domestic importers to sell yen and buy dollars, which helped the Nikkei average hold its losses. In addition, May's Chinese manufacturing PMI remained flat from the previous month, easing excessive concerns about China’s economy and prompting buying. In the afternoon session, market caution increased due to reports of an explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan, and news that Russia had launched cruise missiles at IS bases in Syria.
TOPIX also fell, closing down 0.27% or 4.30 points at 1,568.37. The value traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section was 3,007.6 billion yen, and the share volume was 2,018.98 million shares. Related trading influenced by MSCI index constituent changes was observed. The number of declining issues on the First Section was 1,282, rising issues 622, and unchanged 112.
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