Nikkei 255 Gains 1% on Post-Pandemic Outlook

The Nikkei 225 opened higher on Monday and held ground, finishing up 1% as traders weighed government plans to ease anti-pandemic travel restrictions, possibly boosting travel industries.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 262.49 to 27,001.52, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 155 to 62.

Leading the upside were insurance giant Sompo 8630, up 7.9% after reporting earnings, followed by insurer Tokio Marine (TKOMY, 8766), up 7.6%, and then insurer MS&AD (MSADY, 8725), up 6.7%.

On the downside were chemical concern Tosoh (TOSCF, 4042), off 4.5%, and then oil-industry engineers JGC (JGCCY, 1963), off 3.5%.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the Japanese government would double the anti-pandemic cap on overseas travelers to Japan to 20,000 per day starting in June, reported The Mainichi newspaper.