Japan’s Nikkei 225 pared gains to close flat at 47,950.88, after hitting a record high earlier Tuesday for the second straight session.
The index nosed up 6.12 points to 45,950.88.
Shares of Advantest pared earlier gains to rise 0.64%, while Tokyo Electron and Lasertec reversed course to plunge 1.57% and 5.01% respectively. Renesas Electronics advanced 3.09%. Shares of wire and cable firm Fujikura jumped over 5%.
The Nikkei 225 hit a fresh high Monday after Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected staunch conservative Sanae Takaichi as its new leader Saturday, positioning her to become the country’s first female prime minister.
Japanese Government Bond yields rose to all-time highs Tuesday. The yield on the 10-year JGB rose by 2 basis points to 1.694% to reach the highest level since July 2008, while the 20-year JGB added nearly 4 basis points to hit 2.734%, the highest point since 1999. The yield on the 30-year JGB added more than 4 basis points to 3.333%, an all-time high.
One basis point is equal to 0.01%, and yields move inversely to prices.
The Japanese yen weakened 0.11% to 150.49 against the greenback, falling for a fourth straight session. The currency plunged nearly 2% in the previous session.
Chinese, Hong Kong and South Korean markets are closed for the holidays.
In other markets
In Taiwan, the Taiex index jumped 450.89 points, or 1.7%, to 26,761.06
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index gained 50.55 points, or 1.1%, to 4,472.26
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 progressed 42.05 points, or 0.3%, to 13,531.29.
In Australia, the ASX 200 dropped 24.63 points, or 0.3%, to 8,956.80
