October 02, 2024 at 02:31 am EDT
(MT Newswires) -- Japanese shares declined on Wednesday, following a sell-off on Wall Street as investors turned to safer assets amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
The Nikkei 225 fell 2.18%, or 843.21 points, closing at 37,808.76.
Iran said its missile attack on Israel had concluded unless provoked again. In response, Israel and the U.S. vowed to hold Tehran accountable, escalating concerns about a broader conflict.
Washington pledged to ensure Iran faces "severe consequences" for launching more than 180 ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council scheduled a meeting to discuss the situation, and the European Union called for an immediate ceasefire.
In economic data, Japan's consumer confidence index edged up in September, with the seasonally adjusted figure rising to 36.9, a slight increase of 0.2 points from the previous month.
On the corporate front, Pharma Foods International (TYO:2929) reported a 4% increase in attributable profit to 3.21 billion yen for the year ended July 31. Earnings per share rose to 112.71 yen, up from 106.7 yen, although net sales fell 9.4% to 62.15 billion yen.
Nxera Pharma (TYO:4565) has entered a partnership with Shionogi & Co (TYO:4507) to distribute QUVIVIQ (daridorexant) in Japan, terminating its previous agreement with Mochida Pharmaceutical (TYO:4534). QUVIVIQ is a dual orexin receptor antagonist approved for treating insomnia in adults.
Will Group (TYO:6089) has raised its attributable profit forecast to 530 million yen for the six months ending September 30, 2024, marking a 47.2% increase from an earlier projection of 360 million yen. The HR firm also expects basic earnings per share for the first half to rise to 23.27 yen, up from 15.79 yen.

Sumber : MT Newswires