Japanese Shares Fall on BOJ Rate Hike Fears

2025-12-05 06:54 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.14% to close at 50,446, while the broader Topix Index lost 1.05% to 3,363 on Friday, trimming gains from the previous session as speculation grew that the Bank of Japan may raise interest rates later this month.

Key members of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government reportedly would not oppose the central bank if it moves to hike rates in December, though some senior officials remain cautious about the timing.

Markets are pricing in a move this month, with 1–2 additional rate increases expected next year.

Meanwhile, Wall Street stalled overnight after jobs data showed resilience in the US labor market, slightly reducing expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut next week.

Notable losses in Japan came from heavyweight firms including Advantest (-2.4%), Tokyo Electron (-2%) and Toyota Motor (-2.3%).

In corporate news, Mitsubishi UFJ announced plans to partner with Morgan Stanley in asset management, extending their 17-year collaboration.



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