The Coming Week in Asia: Summer Lull Gives Way to Fall Optimism

TOKYO -- With traders returning rested from summer holidays, Japanese markets are springing back to life amid hopes for a bounce.

Daily trading volume shot higher last week, with foreign investors and local fund mangers picking up semiconductor and electronic shares in anticipation of robust fiscal first-half earnings, which will be released in October.

As a result, the key Nikkei 225 index looks like it will try to break through the important 17,000 barrier this week, just weeks after pushing its head through the 16,000 mark. ...