Published on 01/15/2026 at 01:47 am EST
(MT Newswires) -- Japanese shares ended lower after economists said the Bank of Japan is likely to wait until July for its next rate increase, with over 75% expecting the benchmark to reach at least 1% by September from 0.75%.
The Nikkei 225 rose 230.73 points or 0.42% to close at 54,110.50.
The Bank of Japan is expected to raise rates gradually toward a median terminal level of 1.5%, though policy remains far looser than that of global peers.
Most economists polled by Reuters said the BOJ will hold rates steady in January and March, with 76% expecting the benchmark to reach at least 1% by the end of September, after a quarter-point increase in December.
In economic news, Japan's producer price index rose 2.4% on year in December and edged up 0.1% from the previous month, Bank of Japan data showed, slowing from a 2.7% increase in November.
Higher food and beverage prices, transportation equipment and agricultural products drove the rise, while utility costs fell. Export prices climbed 1% on year in contract currencies, and import prices rose 0.6%.
On the corporate front, Copro-Holdings', which jumped 2%, said its utilization rate was 92.7% at end-December, down from a year earlier but slightly higher than November, while headcount edged lower.
Tokyo Century, which ended 1% higher, said its unit Aviation Capital Group plans a 1 billion dollar senior unsecured bond sale to fund aircraft purchases, repay loans and support operations.
Marubeni's , whose shares climbed 1.8%, managed forests in southern Sumatra suffered little damage during recent floods, and the trading house is weighing carbon credit trading using its forestry assets, Nikkei reported.

Sumber : MT Newswires