Kasumigaseki Capital Co., Ltd.

The Nikkei Stock Average extended its gains sharply for a third straight session, closing at 65,018.95 yen. Following the decline in long-term interest rates in the U.S. market, buying flowed into semiconductor-related shares in particular, with Advantest climbing 1,810 yen to 32,050 yen. At its monetary policy meeting, the Bank of Japan decided as expected to raise interest rates to 1.25 percent, but its statement did not strongly hint at the timing of any additional rate hike, easing excessive expectations for further tightening. Kasumigaseki Capital raised its earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending August 2026, lifting its operating profit estimate to 27.6 billion yen from 26.5 billion yen, up 45.8 percent from the previous year. The revision reflects better-than-expected progress in expanding project profits and accelerating property sales in its hotel business.

Disclosure filings released after the September 17 market close produced a full slate of positive and negative developments relevant to investment decisions. On the positive side, Apple International raised its ordinary profit forecast for the current fiscal year by 18% and increased its dividend by 5 yen; Choshimaru reversed its current-year ordinary profit outlook to a 21% increase, projecting a record high for the first time in three terms along with a 1 yen dividend hike; Kasumigaseki Capital raised its prior-year ordinary profit forecast by 7%, adding to its record-high projection; and Hobonichi raised its prior-year ordinary profit forecast by 67%. In M&A, Saint Marc Holdings will take over the udon specialty restaurant business Tsurutontan from K Express for 12.8 billion yen, while B-style Holdings will acquire all shares of HR Asocié for 1.21 billion yen, making it a subsidiary. Ferrotec will launch a tender offer for Japan Resistor Manufacturing at 1,901 yen per share, a 49.1% premium to the September 17 closing price, aiming to make it a wholly owned subsidiary, while Nippon Seiki will buy back up to 3.61 million shares, or 6.27% of its outstanding shares, for a maximum of 9.979 billion yen. On the negative side, Chubu Steel Plate reversed its current-year ordinary profit outlook to a 46% decline; PharmaRise Holdings ended the June-August quarter with a 31% drop in ordinary profit; Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment Corporation is expected to post a 2% decline in current-year ordinary profit; Advance Residence Investment Corporation a 6% decline; and Ichigo Hotel REIT Investment Corporation an 18% decline.