Japan shares little changed as rally runs out of gas ahead of key resistances

TOKYO, May 26 (Reuters) – Japanese shares were little changed on Wednesday, with their rally from 4-month lows showing signs of losing steam, as investors grapple with uncertainties on global inflation outlook and the country’s economic re-opening.

The Nikkei share average eked out a small gain of 0.18% to 28,604.47 but the broader Topix shed 0.05% at 1,918.53.

While the Nikkei has been recovering from a 4-month low hit earlier this month, it is facing multiple resistances around the current levels, including the 25-day average at 28,714 and 100-day average at 28,932.

“Lots of players, prop traders, retails and quants, are all active in range-trading around the current levels,” said Takeo Kamai, head of execution services at CLSA.

In the very near term, the market is also capped by expectations of outflows due to MSCI’s regular rebalance on Wednesday, as 29 Japanese shares will be excluded from its main index.

Few investors are eager to test the upside as they assess whether the risk inflation in the United States and elsewhere hastens fast enough to prompt central banks to reduce its monetary stimulus.

Domestically, elevated COVID-19 infections remain a problem as the government appears to push ahead with holding the Olympics in July despite health warnings against it.

On the main board, only a third of shares rose while nearly two-thirds declined.

Among gainers, Recruit Holdings rose 3.5% to a record high, extending its bull run since its earnings announcement earlier this month.

Internet firm Z Holdings rose 5.4% in heavy trade while Panasonic gained 3.9%.

On the other hand, steelmakers succumbed to profit-taking after their heavy gains so far this year, with Nippon Steel falling 4.4% and Kobe Steel losing 3.5%.

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