Equities markets in Tokyo were up on Monday, with the Nikkei 225 adding 0.9 percent to 17,209.92 and the Topix index ending 1.1 percent higher to 1,704.58. The Topix was helped by new data showing that core machinery orders in the private sector were up 3.8 percent in November. The new numbers helped not only the construction machinery sector but also the banking sector, as the data raised the chances that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates when it meets later this week.
The banking sector was 2 percent higher as a whole, with Mitsubishi UF up 1.3 percent to ¥1,530,000. Sumitomo Trust & Banking added 2.8 percent to ¥1,325, while SMFG gained 3.3 percent to ¥1,270,000.
The news that Shinko Securities and Mizuho Securities will merge promoted more consolidation speculation in the securities sector, which added 2.7 percent on the session. Daiwa Securities was 3.4 percent higher to ¥1,394. Meanwhile, Nikko Cordial gained 3.3 percent to ¥1,309 after it was learned that Canadian investment management firm Mackenzie Financial has become its largest shareholder.
In the construction machinery sector, Fanuc added 1.5 percent to ¥11,350, while Komatsu was up 1.7 percent to ¥2,365.
Among export-focused stocks, Sharp was 0.4 percent higher to ¥1,992, while Honda gained 1.7 percent to ¥4,690.