Nikkei Adds 0.6% on SQ Day as Sony and Nintendo Surge; BOJ September Bets Push JGB Yields Higher

The Nikkei 225 closed Friday at 68,713.80 (+0.59%) on options SQ day, led by Sony, Nintendo and SoftBank Group, while short-term JGB yields climbed on growing speculation of a BOJ move as early as September. The TSE short-selling ratio came in at 40.9% — mid-range, but still defensive.

BOJ Outlook Report: How to Read CPI Forecasts and Vote Splits

The BOJ’s Outlook (Tenbo) Report, published at the January, April, July and October policy meetings, moves markets through three channels: revisions to the median core-CPI forecast, the risk-balance language, and named board dissents. Here is how to read each one — and why the forecast table often matters more than the rate decision itself.