The Japanese stock market opened lower at the start of this week. The Nikkei 225 index fell 0.8% to 45,009.28, dragged down by a sell-off in high-dividend stocks that began trading ex-dividend today. The greatest pressure came from Komatsu, which fell 3.8%, Kawasaki Kisen, which fell 4%, and Dai-ichi Life, which fell 3.3%.

This decline is quite common when large stocks pass their ex-dividend date, as investors targeting dividends have already exited their positions. However, the weakness was felt more deeply because dividend stocks typically carry a large weighting in the index.

In terms of exchange rates, the yen strengthened slightly against the US dollar. USD/JPY was recorded at 149.27, up from last Friday's closing level of 149.76. The yen's strengthening could slightly pressure Japanese exporter stocks, which are highly sensitive to exchange rate fluctuations.

Investors are also closely monitoring domestic political dynamics, particularly ahead of the election of a new leader for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the current ruling party. The election results have the potential to influence the direction of Japan's future economic policy and fiscal stimulus, so the market is likely to be cautious.

Source: Bloomberg