Tokyo: Nikkei inches higher on gains in Wall Street, Asian shares

[TOKYO] Japan's Nikkei ended higher on Monday (Apr 4) in a range-bound trading session, tracking gains in Wall Street and other Asian equity markets, though losses in chip-related shares weighed on the index.

The Nikkei share average rose 0.25 per cent to close at 27,736.47, after falling as much as 0.3 per cent earlier in the session.

The broader Topix gained 0.48 per cent to 1,953.63.

"The Japanese market was supported by gains on the US market over the weekend, while US futures kept its momentum," said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities.

"But investors were cautious making bets as they wanted to confirm the direction of the US market later today."

On Friday, Wall Street rose modestly as the monthly jobs report indicated a strong labour market and is likely to keep the Federal Reserve on track to maintain its hawkish policy stance.

Trading was sluggish in China due to a holiday, while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan inched up.

In Japan, shipping companies led gains, which rose 2.85 per cent, followed by oil explorers, rising 2.64 per cent.

Zojirushi jumped 4.99 per cent after the cooking appliance maker boosted its quarterly profits.

Chipmaking equipment maker Tokyo Electron weighed on the Nikkei the most, falling 2.66 per cent, tracking an overnight decline on the Philadelphia Semiconductor index.

Peers Advantest and Kyocera dropped 1.26 per cent and 0.47 per cent, respectively.

Railways and airlines were among the weakest sectors, falling 0.74 per cent and 1.66 per cent, respectively, as the number of new Covid-19 infections has turned to an upward trend.

From Monday, the market was restructured into 3 new markets - prime, standard and growth - as the exchange adopted tougher listing criteria to attract more foreign investors. REUTERS