Tokyo, March 16 (AFP/APP): Tokyo’s key Nikkei stocks index opened higher but immediately drifted lower Monday, as investors waited for the results of an emergency policy meeting at the Bank of Japan later in the day. The Nikkei 225 index lost 0.92 percent or 159.97 points to 17,271.08 in early trade while the broader Topix index was down 0.95 percent or 11.97 points at 1,249.73. Shortly before the opening bell, the BoJ announced it would hold a policy meeting at midday Monday, advancing the regular meeting set for Wednesday and Thursday. The one-day meeting is to “discuss monetary control matters based on recent economic and financial developments,” the bank said in a statement without elaborating further. The news boosted stocks briefly at the open but buying soon waned. “Since the Bank brought forward the meeting, there must be something for the markets,” said Makoto Sengoku, market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute. “We have to wait for the outcome but I’d be stunned if they decided to hold fire,” he told AFP. The US Federal Reserve on Sunday announced drastic emergency measures to shore up confidence and keep the financial sector running, including slashing the key interest rate to virtually … Continue reading Tokyo stocks drift lower as investors await BoJ meeting