Japanese Stocks Rising, Yen Weakens

Japanese stocks shot more than 7% in trading Monday (2/15/2016), the impact of the yen's strength against the US dollar (US). 

Last week, the US dollar slumped to its lowest level against the yen in the last 15 months, it makes the Nikkei 225 index tumbled more than 11%. A stronger yen makes Japanese exports products become more expensive and not competitive. 

This Monday, the US dollar strengthened against the yen to 113.95 yen, compared to 113.25 yen earlier in the position on Friday's trade. 

The Tokyo stock market in Japan soared despite Japan's economic growth data was recorded at minus 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2015. 

Despite the poor economic growth data recorded per quarter on quarter, but did not inhibit the Nikkei 225 index closed 7.2% higher at 16022.5 position. This is the highest jump since late 2008. 

Last week, the US dollar weakened sharply against the yen and make the yen more expensive to the detriment of exporters of the country Sakura. 

On Friday, the Nikkei 225 index closed down 4.8% to 14952.6, or below the level of 15,000. It was the lowest close since October 2014. 

However, the weakening of the yen today to deliver shares of big exporters rose sharply. Toyota shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose more than 9.5%, Honda was up 8% and Nissan rose 6.7%. Sharp and Sony each rose more than 7% and 8%. 

Analysts estimate that the yen could continue to weaken this year, which would be good for exporters."We maintain our view that the yen will weaken against the US dollar, is expected in the numbers 130 yen / US $ at the end of this year, from 113 yen / US $ at today," said Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics, as reported by the BBC on Monday ( 02.15.2016). 

On the other hand, China's stock market closed down 0.6% to 2,746, after the long Lunar New Year holiday. 

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index jumped 3% to 18874.5 after closed lower on Thursday and Friday.The trade figures released on Monday showed China's exports in yuan fell 6.6% in January from a year earlier, while imports fell 14.4%. 

In US dollars, China's exports fell 11.2% from a year earlier and imports fell 18.8%. China's trade surplus reached US $ 63.3 billion in January 2016, only a slight increase compared to December 2015 amounted to US $ 60.9 billion.

 Analysts said the January trade data is a reflection of the external slowdown mainly from trading partners such as South Korea. 

In Australia, the benchmark S & P / ASX 200 closed up 1.6% to 4843.5, while South Korea's Kospi index closed up 1.5% to 1862.2 points.