The Nikkei average started with a decline of 438 yen, with a major opinion at the Bank of Japan's March meeting being the starting line for financial normalization.

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Bank of Japan's main opinions at the March meeting "Starting line of financial normalization"
On the 28th, the Bank of Japan released the "main opinions" summarizing the remarks made at the monetary policy meeting held on the 18th and 19th. The Bank of Japan lifted the large-scale easing, including the negative interest rate policy, at the meeting. With expectations of broad and significant wage increases in spring labor negotiations, voices indicating the "manageable situation" for the sustainable and stable achievement of the 2% price target have been increasing.

Nomura Holdings' wholesale division chief believes the exchange rate will shift to a weaker dollar and stronger yen in the latter half of the year
$Nomura Holdings (8604.JP)$Christopher Wilcox, head of the wholesale division at HD, appeared on Bloomberg Television on the 28th and forecasted a stronger yen trend in the latter half of the year in light of the exchange rate reaching the highest dollar and lowest yen levels in about 34 years.

"Nikkei average at the end of the year at ¥0.04 million" - Commons Investment Trust President Ii
In the 2023 stock market, which was filled with record highs such as the Nikkei Stock Average hitting an all-time high in 34 years. Many predict that semiconductor-related stocks, which surged on the wave of AI (artificial intelligence) development, will continue to lead the market in the 2024 fiscal year. How would the market in the 2023 fiscal year be summarized, and how high is the Nikkei average expected to rise in the new fiscal year? Commons Investment Trust President Tetsuro Ii shared his insights on the market environment and outlook.

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust, Japan Stock Fund focusing on impact investments
In impact investing, which aims to achieve both solving social issues and profitability, $MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP INC (MBFJF.US)$Trust banks also aim to launch new funds in the first half of fiscal year 2024. There is a growing trend among institutions to prioritize returns in impact investing.

Soshionext - continues to decline, selected as a lending and borrowing stock, to be implemented from the trading on the 28th.
$Socionext (6526.JP)$Continues to decline. The company announced on the 27th that it has been selected as a lending and borrowing stock in the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, in addition to being selected as a lending and borrowing stock. It will be implemented from the trading on the 28th.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's 'Red Koji' damage expands, faced with an unusual recall order pressured by the administration.
$Kobayashi Pharmaceutical (4967.JP)$Regarding health damage caused by supplements made from 'red koji' raw materials manufactured by the company, Osaka City issued an administrative disposition ordering the collection for disposal of the target products on the 27th. The number of deaths has been revealed to be two, with over 100 people hospitalized.

Nissan to repurchase Renault shares sold - 2.5%.
$Nissan Motor (7201.JP)$Announced on the 27th that it will additionally acquire some of the Nissan shares being sold by the French Renault. It will purchase 0.1 billion0.24 million shares, equivalent to 2.5% of the issued shares (excluding treasury stock), from the shares that Renault had transferred to a French trust company at a price of 59.4 billion yen.

Iwatani Industries - buy orders for the construction of 2 new liquefied hydrogen plants, catering to demand from buses and power generation, doubling production = Nikkei
$Iwatani (8088.JP)$Buying pressure. The morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun dated the 28th reported that the company plans to invest approximately 50 billion yen by 2027 to establish liquefied hydrogen production bases in Kawasaki City and Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.