Japanese shares post third weekly gain on monetary easing optimism

By Stanley White
TOKYO, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks ended higher on
Friday and posted their third straight week of gains as
consumer-related shares rose on speculation the Bank of Japan
will follow other central banks and ease policy next month.
The Nikkei 225 index .N225 rose 0.16% to 22,079.09. Nikkei
shares rose 0.4% this week.
There were 122 advancers on the Nikkei index against 97
decliners.
The BOJ kept policy steady on Thursday but signalled its
readiness to expand stimulus as early as next month by issuing a
stronger warning of overseas risks threatening the
export-reliant economy. "Japanese stocks have risen a lot recently, so I expect an
adjustment lower next week, but that would be a chance to buy
the dip," said Kiyoshi Ishigane, chief fund manager at
Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co in Tokyo.
"Shares will be supported by expectations for more monetary
easing, expectations for fiscal spending in other countries and
optimism about the trade war. The BOJ wants to ease, but it's
just having trouble reaching consensus on what to do."
The largest percentage gainers in the index were Rakuten Inc
4755.T up 3.94%, followed by Suzuki Motor Corp 7269.T
gaining 3.72%, and DeNA Co Ltd 2432.T up by 2.80%.
Shares of Hub Co Ltd 3030.T an operator of a popular chain
of English-style pubs, rose to the highest since February 2018
and then pared gains slightly to close 7.00% higher.
Japan is hosting the Rugby World Cup, and the opening match
is scheduled for later on Friday. Investors are betting the
tournament will boost the pub operator's sales.
The largest percentage losses in the index were Yamato
Holdings Co Ltd 9064.T down 8.37%, followed by Nippon Express
Co Ltd 9062.T losing 2.94%, and Japan Steel Works Ltd 5631.T
down by 2.16%.
The broader Topix .TOPX ended up 0.04% at 1,616.23.
The volume of shares traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's
main board .TOPX was 1.46 billion, above the average of 1.15
billion yen in the past 30 days.

(Editing by Jacqueline Wong)