The Nikkei 225 rose 0.74% to 69,220.25 on Monday, a fifth straight gain led by semiconductors and SoftBank, while the broader TOPIX fell as yields climbed and only 5 of 17 sectors advanced. Short selling ran at 39.4% of TSE turnover.
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.
The Nikkei 225 rose 1.16% to 68,308.59 on Thursday as semiconductor names rallied and banks repriced for a possible near-term BOJ hike. The yen held near 159.39, JGB yields pushed higher across the curve, and the TSE short-selling ratio came in at 41.8%.
The Nikkei 225 closed at 67,524.06 (+0.83%) on Wednesday with banks and semiconductor-equipment names leading, the yen soft at 159.36, and the TSE short-sell ratio at 40.3% — while the Nikkei Volatility Index jumped seven points ahead of Friday’s options SQ.
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.
Tokyo, Aug 10: The Nikkei 225 surged 2.08% to 66,970 on a semiconductor rally led by Advantest and Tokyo Electron, while TOPIX lagged at +0.59%. The yen was little changed around 158.5 as JGB yields kept drifting higher. Short-sell ratio: 41.1%, mid-range.
Seven numbers tell you most of what matters in Japanese equities each day: the Nikkei-TOPIX (NT) ratio, USD/JPY, the TSE short-selling ratio (37-45% over the past week), weekly investor flows, JGB yields, US chip stocks, and three bellwether stocks — here is where each lives and how to read it.
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.93% to 65,683 as Tokyo Electron and SoftBank dragged, yet 15 of 17 sectors advanced and the TOPIX proxy gained 0.57%. Short selling eased to 39.9% of turnover as money rotated from semis into pharma, foods and autos.
The Nikkei 225 jumped 2,342.91 points to 66,300.44 on Wednesday as an overnight surge in US chip names lit up Tokyo’s AI complex. SoftBank Group soared 13.96%, Advantest 8.77%. The TSE short-selling ratio eased to 41.8% — still defensive, but the least so in three sessions.
SQ (Special Quotation) is the settlement price for Nikkei 225 futures and options, computed from the opening auction prints of all 225 constituents on the second Friday of each contract month. Quarterly ‘major SQ’ Fridays — March, June, September, December — produce some of the largest opening volume prints of the year, and much of that turnover reflects settlement-related hedging rather than fresh directional views. Here is how the mechanics work and how to read the numbers.