- The Nikkei retreated from a 15-year high after briefly breaking above 20K overnight. Local traders say persistent demand for stocks through systemic futures buying is causing the most recent surge, which has the index higher by nearly 15% so far this year.
- "Markets globally are more central bank policy-driven than ever, which has sent stock valuations to sky-high levels," says a wealth manager, and Japanese stocks have the added appeal of better value versus other developed markets.
- The Nikkei closed the session lower by 0.15%.
- ETFs: DXJ, EWJ, NKY, DBJP, EZJ, EWV, JPNL, ITF, JPP, HEWJ, FJP