TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei average edged up on Tuesday ahead of a widely expected policy easing by the Bank of Japan later in the day, while brokerage Nomura Holdings (8604.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) climbed after its quarterly results were supported by fixed income gains.

Nomura advanced 2.5 percent after it posted its fourth straight quarterly profit as an upswing in its fixed income operations helped it counter weak equity markets and the fallout from an insider trading probe.

TOKYO, Oct 29 (Reuters) – Japanese government bonds fell on
Monday after the previous session’s rise and ahead of Tuesday’s
Bank of Japan meeting, with the market expecting the central
bank to further ease monetary policy.

The 10-year yield inched 1 basis point higher
to 0.770 p ercent, while the 10-year JGB futures eased
two ticks to 144.22 in light volume, but held above their 20-day
moving average at 144.16.

TOKYO, Oct 26 (Reuters) – Benchmark Japanese government
bonds inched higher on Friday, as Asian shares sold off on weak
corporate earnings and concerns about Chinese funds facing heavy
redemptions after media reported that the funds posted poor
quarterly results.

Those worries weighed on risky assets, with Tokyo’s Nikkei
share average down 1.4 percent and the MSCI index of
Asia-Pacific shares outside of Japan off 1.2
percent, while boosting the appeal of safe haven assets, such as
government bonds.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei average rose to a four-week closing high on Thursday, lifted by exporters as the yen weakened on growing expectations that the Bank of Japan would further ease monetary policy next week.

A 5.5 percent jump in KDDI Corp (9433.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on expectations that the mobile operator would see stronger growth in the next business year also boosted the index.

TOKYO, Oct 24 (Reuters) – Benchmark Japanese government
bonds edged higher on Wednesday, as disappointing U.S. earnings
sapped investors’ risk appetite, and the superlong sector
underperformed on worries about Japan’s fiscal situation.

DuPont and United Technologies posted
disappointing quarterly results on Tuesday, raising concerns
about the impact of a global economic slowdown on earnings.
Japan’s Nikkei stock average lost 0.7 percent on
Tuesday, snapping a seven-session winning streak, lending
support to bonds.

TOKYO, Oct 23 (Reuters) – Japanese government bonds slipped
on Tuesday, with the 30-year yield hitting a six-month high on
concerns over Japan’s fiscal situation, though shorter-dated
notes were supported by growing expectations of new easing steps
by the Bank of Japan.

The Ministry of Finance said it would hold a meeting with
JGB primary dealers on Friday to discuss contingency plans in
case there was a delay in the passage of a deficit-financing
bond bill.

TOKYO, Oct 23 (Reuters) – Japanese government bonds slipped
on Tuesday after two sessions of gains, tracking an overnight
fall in U.S. Treasuries, but they were supported by growing
expectations of new easing steps by the Bank of Japan.

U.S. Treasury prices slipped on Monday, ahead of the sale of
$99 billion of U.S. government debt this week.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average slipped to a fresh two-month low on Friday, with Softbank Corp (9984.T: Quote, Profile, Research) tumbling 17 percent after the wireless service provider said it was in talks to invest in U.S. firm Sprint Nextel (S.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

But index losses were capped by gains in exporters as news of the potential deal, which could range up to more than 2 trillion yen, helped weaken the yen.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei edged higher on Friday, moving off its lowest close in more than two months, as the yen slipped against the dollar after wireless service provider Softbank Corp (9984.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it was in talks to invest in U.S. firm Sprint Nextel (S.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

A source has said Softbank is eyeing a controlling stake in Sprint worth more than 1 trillion yen ($12.8 billion) and the talks have also spurred speculation that the Japanese firm could also make a run at other companies via Sprint, potentially costing 2 trillion yen.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average fell to its lowest close in more than two months on Thursday on mounting fears that upcoming corporate earnings will be weak after the U.S. results season got off to a slow start.

The Nikkei dropped 0.6 percent to 8,546.78 points, losing ground for a third straight session. The benchmark has lost 8 percent since hitting a four-month high on September 19.