Japanese shares rose on Friday as the Bank of Japan is expected to hold rates in March, with most economists seeing a 25-basis-point hike to 0.75% in July.
The Nikkei 225 rose 0.84%, or 310.82 points, to end at 37,100.85.
A Reuters poll showed about 70% of economists expect the Bank of Japan to raise rates to 0.75% in the third quarter, likely in July, up from 65% in February.
Nearly 90% foresee negative effects on Japan's economy from US President Donald Trump's tariff policies.
Markets are pricing in a quarter-point hike by September or October, with a 25% chance of another increase by year-end. Wage gains and food price inflation could prompt an earlier hike as soon as May.
The median year-end rate forecast remains at 0.75%, with 1% projected by March 2026.
On the corporate front, Melco Holdings (TYO:6676) will acquire 800,000 Secure shares at 1,819 yen each for 1.46 billion yen through a third-party allotment on March 3, securing a 14.35% stake.
Shionogi & Co (TYO:4507) said its antiviral ensitrelvir cut symptomatic COVID-19 risk by 67% in a Phase 3 trial of 2,041 household contacts. Ensitrelvir, branded Xocova in Japan and Singapore, holds FDA Fast Track status and is under review in Taiwan.
Toho Co. (TYO:8142) posted a 24.4% rise in full-year profit to 4.49 billion yen, with EPS up to 416.92 yen. Sales rose 0.6% to 246.5 billion yen, while operating profit fell 4.1% to 7.50 billion yen on higher costs.
Source: Bloomberg
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