We had rises in large-cap electronics stocks on one hand and falls in bank shares on the other. That kept the Nikkei from moving either up or down.

Steel and banks had risen without a recess recently. That's apparently overdone.

The outcome was pretty much in line with what the market had expected, and failed to brush off worries over a possible slowdown in corporate earnings and Japan's economic growth.

The outcome was pretty much in line with what the market had expected, and failed to brush off worries over a possible slowdown in corporate earnings and Japan's economic growth,

Generally, a weaker yen is healthy for exporters and the economy. But the stock market doesn't have much else going for it,

I'm not a fighter, but in my mind I'm fighting every day. 'What's new? What am I doing?' I'm fighting myself. My soul is samurai. My roots aren't samurai, but my soul is.