Japan Shares Rise as as Contained March Inflation Dampens Rate Hike Fears
Japanese shares closed nearly 1% higher on Friday after data showed inflation remained contained in March, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan will refrain from raising interest rates next week.The Nikkei 225 rose nearly 1%, or 575.95 points, to close at 59,716.18.Core consumer prices, excluding fresh food, rose 1.8% year on year in March, matching forecasts and accelerating from 1.6% in February. Energy subsidies continued to limit price pressures despite higher fuel costs linked to Middle East tensions.The data showed energy prices fell 5.7%, a smaller drop than the previous month, while nonperishable food inflation eased. A separate core-core gauge, which strips out energy, rose 2.4%.On the corporate front, Shares of Daiichi Sankyo (TYO:4568) fell about 10% after the company delayed its earnings release and five-year plan while reviewing oncology supply plans, even as it raised its full-year profit outlook on foreign exchange gains.Shares of Renesas Electronics (TYO:6723) dropped about 5% despite reporting a 162% jump in first-quarter profit and strong revenue growth, with the company flagging near-term volatility and issuing only a six-month outlook.Shares of SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) rose 2% after a report said its mobile unit plans to convert part of an Osaka plant into a large-scale battery production site to support AI data centers.