Chihiro Ota: Points and Missile

chihiro ota: On Thursday, the key market gauge fell 58.38 points. ; The Topix index of all first-section issues ended up 6.81 points, or 0.42 percent, at 1,638.94, after shedding 5.20 points the previous day, according to The Japan Times. Stocks opened lower due to selling triggered by the missile launch, carried out hours before the opening bell, brokers said. The 225-issue Nikkei average rose 102.06 points, or 0.52 percent, to close at 19,909.50, its highest finish since Aug. 8. The missile traveled over Hokkaido and fell into the Pacific Ocean. Market players have become used to a North Korean missile launch, said Chihiro Ota, general manager for investment research and investor services at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. After the initial selling ran its course, however, stocks popped up into positive territory and expanded gains, with investors taking heart from the dollar's strength against the yen after the latest provocation of North Korea, brokers said. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.