Tokyo, April 23, 2024 (AFP)
Tokyo stocks closed higher on Tuesday in cautious trade ahead of the Bank of Japan's policy meeting later this week and upcoming corporate earnings.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended up 0.30 percent, or 113.55 points, at 37,552.16, while the broader Topix index added 0.14 percent, or 3.77 points, to 2,666.23.
"Selling pressure emerged" and stripped off some early gains after a series of buying in early hours encouraged by overnight rallies on Wall Street, Iwai Cosmo Securities said.
Despite receding worries over Middle East tensions, investors "postponed active buying ahead of earnings reports of US and Japanese tech companies and the Bank of Japan's policy meeting", it said.
The central bank will hold a two-day policy meeting through Friday, with most market watchers expecting the BoJ will keep interest rates unchanged.
However, the bank will likely hike inflation forecasts and BoJ governor Kazuo Ueda's post-meeting news conference will be closely monitored.
Investors were also monitoring the forex market on speculation that Japanese authorities may step into the market to slow the yen's fall after the currency slid to its lowest level in more than 30 years.
The dollar fetched 154.73 yen in Asia, against 154.84 yen on Monday in New York.
Among major shares in Tokyo, shipping firm Hitachi Zosen gained 1.30 percent to 1,249 yen, Astellas Pharma added 1.05 percent to 1,491.5 yen, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group ended up 1.01 percent at 8,787 yen.
Sony Group slipped 0.28 percent to 12,495 yen. Honda fell 0.51 percent to 1,764.5 yen. Shipping firm Nippon Yusen lost 2.15 percent to 4,146 yen.

Sumber : AFP