Japanese stocks edged higher at the close of trading as service sector activity picked up in the country in September, helped by a recovery in demand as Covid-19 injuries eased and restrictions on outbound tourism eased.
Data released today showed Japan’s Jibon Banking Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 52.2 in September from 49.5 in August, up from 51.9 from its original reading.
Japan is set to ease restrictions on its foreign policy from next Tuesday, lifting travel restrictions among other measures as it hopes the yen’s sharp fall against the dollar and other major currencies this year will help attract tourists.
And Japan’s foreign ministry announced in a statement Wednesday that Japan would reopen its embassy in Kyiv after it was temporarily closed in March following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Nikkei index rose by the end of the session by 0.48% to 27,120 points, while the broader Topix index rose by 0.32% to 1912 points.
Source: El Iktisad
