Japanese Shares Rise as Oil Retreats

2026-03-17 00:37 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.5% to around 54,000 while the broader Topix Index gained 1.5% to 3,665 on Tuesday, snapping a three-day decline and tracking a rebound on Wall Street overnight as easing oil prices helped lift investor sentiment.

The move came as several tankers safely navigated the Strait of Hormuz, while major economies are expected to release petroleum reserves to help offset potential supply disruptions.

The recent surge in oil prices had fueled inflation concerns, with oil-importing economies like Japan particularly vulnerable to supply shocks.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is expected to keep its policy rate unchanged this week amid heightened uncertainty over the Iran war’s impact on the domestic economy.

Defense and financial stocks led the rebound, with notable gains from Mitsubishi Heavy (3.5%), Kawasaki Heavy (2.3%), Mitsubishi UFJ (1.8%), Sumitomo Mitsui (2.4%), and Mizuho Financial (2.4%).



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Japanese Shares Rise as Oil Retreats
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.5% to around 54,000 while the broader Topix Index gained 1.5% to 3,665 on Tuesday, snapping a three-day decline and tracking a rebound on Wall Street overnight as easing oil prices helped lift investor sentiment. The move came as several tankers safely navigated the Strait of Hormuz, while major economies are expected to release petroleum reserves to help offset potential supply disruptions. The recent surge in oil prices had fueled inflation concerns, with oil-importing economies like Japan particularly vulnerable to supply shocks. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is expected to keep its policy rate unchanged this week amid heightened uncertainty over the Iran war’s impact on the domestic economy. Defense and financial stocks led the rebound, with notable gains from Mitsubishi Heavy (3.5%), Kawasaki Heavy (2.3%), Mitsubishi UFJ (1.8%), Sumitomo Mitsui (2.4%), and Mizuho Financial (2.4%).
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The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.13% to close at 53,751 while the broader Topix Index lost 0.5% to 3,611 on Monday, with Japanese shares remaining under pressure as investors continued to grapple with Middle East uncertainty and volatile oil prices. In the latest developments, the US attacked military targets on Iran’s main oil-export hub of Kharg Island over the weekend, while reports suggest that the US will soon announce a coalition of countries to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. However, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the country currently has no plans to deploy warships to the strait despite US pressure on other nations. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is expected to hold its policy rate steady this week amid heightened uncertainty over the Iran war’s impact on the domestic economy. Notable decliners included Nintendo (-1.2%), Fujikura (-3.4%), and Furukawa Electric (-4.2%).
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