For instance, the recent guideline on fair-value accounting, which decrees that companies must show equity holdings at their market value, also contains a provision that allows them to avoid writing down shares if they think that they will soon recover in value.

ECONOMIST: Company accounts

And, hence, the stock is not likely to show its true fair value in the near term until the noise from the non-operating factors slowly dies down.

FORBES: Chesapeake's Outlook Uncertain As Icahn Takes On Management

The figures from the Tokyo Stock Exchange show that individuals accounted for 36% of the total value of trades in Japan's major stock markets, down from 39% the week before.

WSJ: 5.2% Drop Takes Tokyo Stocks Into a Correction