Nikkei bounces back as Trump health report calms investors

TOKYO: Japanese shares bounced back on Monday, led by buying in value firms including railway companies, after doctors said US President Donald Trump was recovering well, just a few days after his COVID-19 results sparked widespread alarm.

The Nikkei share average rose 1.23pc to 23,312.14.

Doctors said the president could be sent back to the White House as soon as Monday, although they were monitoring the condition of his lungs after he received supplemental oxygen.

The broader Topix rose 1.74pc to 1,637.25, with value-oriented shares gaining 2.20pc, outperforming 1.37pc gain in growth shares of Topix Growth index.

In particular, railway companies rebounded sharply from Friday's plunge, in part helped by hopes for increased travel demand due to the government's campaign to encourage domestic tourism while the coronavirus keeps many international borders shut.

East Japan Railway, West Japan Railway and Central Japan Railway advanced 3.7pc, 5.8pc and 6.2pc, respectively.

Insurers also did well, with Dai-ichi Life Holdings rising 4.7pc and Sompo Holdings adding 3.7pc.

Nippon Steel gained 6pc to make steelmakers the best-performing sector.

On the other hand, Nitori, one of the stay-at-home winners, rose just 0.9pc after the furniture store chain operator's June-August earnings fell short of the market's high expectations.

"In the first half of Japanese financial year, stay-at-home winners have performed strongly. But as we enter the new half year, at least so far, they don't seem to have momentum, said Fumio Matsumoto, chief strategist at Okasan Securities.

Elsewhere, Honda Motor gained 2.6pc after the carmaker announced on Friday it would end its participation as an engine supplier in the FIA Formula One World Championship to focus on zero-emission technology.

NEC gained 2.5pc, slightly beating the overall market, after the IT and electronics firm said it would buy Swiss financial software company Avaloq Group AG for 2.05 billion Swiss francs ($2.2 billion).