Published on 03/27/2026 at 02:47 am EDT
(MT Newswires) -- Japanese shares closed lower after the finance minister signaled readiness for "bold" steps to counter currency moves, with the yen hovering near levels that previously triggered intervention.
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.43%, or 230.58 points, to close at 53,373.07.
"It comes down to responding firmly, including bold steps," Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on the yen's weakness.
The currency traded near 159.70 per dollar, close to levels that previously prompted intervention, before strengthening to around 159.49 after her remarks.
Katayama pointed to speculative moves linked to oil markets, signaling close monitoring of currencies and commodities. Authorities have also sounded out market participants on possible action in crude futures, Bloomberg reported.
On the corporate front, Shares of Financial Partners Group Ltd. fell over 8% after cutting its fiscal 2026 earnings outlook and dividend, citing tax-related weakness in its domestic real estate fund business.
KDX Realty Investment slipped about 1% after agreeing to acquire a Tokyo residential asset and sell an office property, alongside securing 10 billion yen in financing mainly to refinance debt.
Okasan Securities rose 4% after raising its dividend and shifting to special payouts of at least 10 billion yen annually under a revised shareholder return policy.

Sumber : MT Newswires