Japanese Shares Rise on Fed Rate Cut Bets

2025-10-15 00:52 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 1.76% to close at 47,673 while the broader Topix Index gained 1.58% to 3,184 on Wednesday, with Japanese shares ending a two-day losing streak and breaking ranks with Wall Street’s losses as Federal Reserve Chair Powell’s latest remarks reinforced expectations for further US interest rate cuts.

Meanwhile, investors continued to monitor evolving US-China trade dynamics after US President Donald Trump threatened China with a cooking oil embargo in retaliation for Beijing’s soybean boycott.

Domestically, uncertainty persisted over whether LDP leader Sanae Takaichi, who is known for supporting expansionary policies, will become the next prime minister following the coalition split with Komeito.

Technology stocks led the rebound, with SoftBank Group, Lasertec, and Advantest gaining between 2.2% to 6.8%.

Mercari also surged 14.2% after the online retailer announced plans to withdraw from its on-demand employment service to focus on core e-commerce operations.



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