Japanese Shares Fall as Global Yields Rebound

The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.7% to below 66,000 while the broader Topix Index declined 0.25% to around 4,050 on Friday, giving back gains from the previous session as global bond yields rebounded amid concerns that US efforts to curb borrowing costs through debt buybacks may provide only a temporary solution. The 10-year US Treasury yield traded around 4.7%, erasing its losses from earlier in the week, while Japan’s benchmark 10-year yield ended a two-day decline. Meanwhile, data showed Japan’s inflation rate accelerated for the second consecutive month, strengthening the case for a Bank of Japan interest rate hike in the near term. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda previously indicated that authorities could begin normalizing policy at a faster pace. Technology stocks led the declines, with notable losses from Advantest (-0.8%), Taiyo Yuden (-3.2%) and SoftBank Group (-2.3%). The Nikkei and Topix indexes were on track to lose more than 4% and 3% for the week, respectively.





