Japanese Shares Mixed After Strong Data

2025-12-17 06:57 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

Japanese equities ended mixed on Wednesday as robust economic data reinforced expectations that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates this week, limiting upside momentum.

The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.26% to close at 49,512, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.03% to 3,369.

Exports increased 6.1% in November, beating forecasts of 4.8% and marking the strongest growth in nine months.

Core machinery orders, a key leading indicator of capital expenditure over the next six to nine months, also climbed 7%, defying expectations for a 2.3% decline.

The BOJ is widely expected to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.75% on Friday, with investors also watching closely for guidance on the policy outlook for the year ahead.

In corporate developments, SBI Shinsei Bank began trading in Tokyo after raising ¥322 billion in Japan’s second-largest IPO of the year.



News Stream
Japanese Shares Trim Weekly Losses
The Nikkei 225 climbed 1.3% to close at 53,123, while the broader TOPIX rose 0.9% to 3,645 on Friday, trimming weekly losses to 0.4%, as sentiment improved on global efforts to restore Gulf oil shipments disrupted by the war in Iran. Multiple countries moved to revive flows through the Strait of Hormuz after US President Trump signaled a more aggressive stance, even as the conflict, ongoing since late February, continues to drive volatility in energy markets. Hopes of a partial reopening also helped ease crude prices in Tokyo, offering support to equities, particularly given Japan’s heavy reliance on imported energy. Improving sentiment around the Middle East, alongside optimism over AI-driven growth, lifted expectations of solid corporate performance in the upcoming earnings season. AI suppliers Furukawa Electric and Fujikura surged 10.4% and 7.5%, respectively, while Sakura Internet surged 20.2% to its daily limit after Microsoft announced a ¥1.6 trillion AI partnership in Japan.
2026-04-03
The Nikkei 225 Index Closes 1.35% Higher
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 709 points or 1.35 percent on Friday to close at 53172 points. Leading the gains are Taiyo Yuden (12.35%), Hino Motors (12.04%) and Furukawa Electric (9.87%).
2026-04-03
Japanese Stocks Rise on Hormuz Reopening Hopes
The Nikkei 225 climbed 1.7% to above 53,300, while the broad-based TOPIX gained 1.1% to 3,600 on Friday, reversing the prior day's losses amid hopes that the crucial waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, would partially reopen. Reports indicated that Iran is drafting a protocol with Oman to monitor and coordinate tanker traffic through the strait, which has been effectively shut since the start of the conflict. The plan would place transit under joint supervision and could require ships to pay tolls to Tehran. However, uncertainty lingered as oil prices remained elevated after Trump vowed to escalate the conflict in the coming weeks. Separately, Trump also unveiled sweeping tariff adjustments, including 100% duties on certain branded pharmaceutical imports with broad exemptions, alongside changes to metals tariffs. Among individual stocks, notable gains were seen from Hitachi (3.1%), Tokyo Electron (3.1%), SoftBank Group (1.4%), Fast Retailing (1.9%), and Mitsubishi (1.2%).
2026-04-03