Are Japan's banks stocks a good investment?

Japan's banking sector is one of the richest and largest in the world, with 2019 estimates signalling that its banks held more than 18 trillion U.S. dollars worth of assets. So if you want to take look at how this country's financial system is fairing, exploring the bellwether that is Japan's banks stocks is a pretty good start.

What is the most popular stock index in Japan?

While the TSE is the main exchange, the most popular Japanese stock index is the Nikkei 225 ( Japan225 ), which tracks the performance of 225 large corporations from a broad range of industries. The index was established in May 1949 as the country's economy began to recover from World War II.

Why are Japanese banks bucking a falling market?

Shares in Japanese banks have jumped in the last two trading sessions, bucking a falling market, after the Bank of Japan raised its cap on benchmark bond yields. Why? Rising interest rates are usually bad news for stock markets, since they push up the cost of borrowing for companies and make the bond market a more attractive alternative to stocks.