The Tokyo stock market has been experiencing sharp drops over the last couple of days. I suspect that this has mainly been caused by increasing concerns about the degradation of social infrastructure following the recent “2011 off the Pacific coast Tohoku Earthquake” and subsequent nuclear power plant accident. Market participants’ concerns have also been further accelerated by the conflicting information on these happenings.
However, the overseas media still appreciate the potential power of the Japanese economy, even after the recent earthquake. In fact, the trend in the stock market today and yesterday showed that foreign investors were the net buyers.
I also believe that Japan’s experience, knowledge and technologies in the area of recovering from earthquakes should not be underestimated and that the stock market will calm down soon.
Under these circumstances, I believe that the Tokyo Stock Exchange in its role as an important social infrastructure should continue to provide opportunities for stock trading. I would appreciate it if all investors and trading participants would respond in a calm and orderly manner.
Atsushi Saito
President & CEO
Tokyo Stock Exchange Group, Inc.