Japan: Best and Worst Performing ADRs Last Week and YTD

A majority of Japanese ADRs trading on the NYSE/NASDAQ posted weekly gains for a third consecutive week. The Nikkei is trading near a calendar year and multi-year high, but there may be subdued buying ahead of the parliamentary elections later this month.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange was closed Monday in observation of Marine Day, also known as Ocean or Beach Day.

Trading volume remained light last week with the exception of a jump Friday from options expiration related activity. The Bank of Japan paused again at 0.5% on Thursday.

The five best performing ADRs last week:

1. Mitsui & Co. (MITSY) 11.1% (Leads all NYSE/Nasdaq-traded Japan ADRs ytd +53%)
2. Kubota (KUB) 7.5%
3. Konami (KNM) 5.4%
4. IIJ (IIJI) 4.2%
5. Millea Hldgs (MLEA) 4.2% (See Millea Holdings Says Sayonara to 40+ Year ADR Listing)

The five worst performing ADRs:

1. Nomura Hldgs (NMR) -6.5% (See Deutsche Bank Cuts Nomura's Share Target on Expected Subprime Losses)
2. NIS Grp. (NIS) -4.4%
3. ORIX (IX) -3.5%
4. TDK (TDK) -1.7%
5. FUJIFILM Hldgs (FUJI) -1.7%

See the chart below for weekly and year-to-date returns.

Click to enlarge chart

Disclosure: The author owns shares of NIS Group and IIJ and also owns IIJ call options.