A U.S.-listed exchange traded fund (ETF) for Japanese equities was set to follow the Nikkei Stock Average slightly higher Thursday as the country’s prime minister was under pressure to resign for his leadership during Japan’s nuclear disaster.
The iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund (NYSEArca: EWJ) was up fractionally in Thursday’s premarket, mirroring the Nikkei in Japan.
Japan’s main opposition party called on Prime Minister Naoto Kan to resign over his handling of the country’s natural disasters and a nuclear crisis, Reuters reported.
Separately, Japan’s nuclear watchdog said it may need alternative options to cool one of its crippled nuclear reactors.
The Japan ETF closed with a gain on Wednesday despite more earthquakes this week and an upgrade of Japan’s nuclear crisis. The portfolio of Japanese stocks ended Wednesday down 10.6% over the past three months, according to Morningstar.
iShares MSCI Japan
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