Japanese Shares Gain on Tech Boost

2026-03-18 00:54 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 1.4% to above 54,400, while the broader Topix Index rose 1.1% to 3,667 on Wednesday, reversing losses from the previous session, with technology stocks leading the rebound.

Investors sought segments of the market least affected by the Middle East conflict, with tech and artificial intelligence seeing renewed interest.

The Iran war continued as Tehran intensified attacks on regional energy infrastructure, while US allies pushed back against President Donald Trump’s call to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Investors also digested data showing Japanese exports rose 4.2% in February year-on-year, exceeding expectations of 1.6% but slowing sharply from January’s 16.8% jump.

Top performers included Kioxia Holdings (+5.3%), Fujikura (+3.8%), Advantest (+4%), SoftBank Group (+4.9%), and Disco Corp (+2.7%).



News Stream
Japanese Shares Gain on Tech Boost
The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 1.4% to above 54,400, while the broader Topix Index rose 1.1% to 3,667 on Wednesday, reversing losses from the previous session, with technology stocks leading the rebound. Investors sought segments of the market least affected by the Middle East conflict, with tech and artificial intelligence seeing renewed interest. The Iran war continued as Tehran intensified attacks on regional energy infrastructure, while US allies pushed back against President Donald Trump’s call to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Investors also digested data showing Japanese exports rose 4.2% in February year-on-year, exceeding expectations of 1.6% but slowing sharply from January’s 16.8% jump. Top performers included Kioxia Holdings (+5.3%), Fujikura (+3.8%), Advantest (+4%), SoftBank Group (+4.9%), and Disco Corp (+2.7%).
2026-03-18
Japanese Shares Fall as Oil Prices Rebound
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.09% to close at 53,700 on Tuesday, reversing earlier gains as oil prices rebounded on supply disruption fears in the Middle East. Iran has intensified attacks on energy infrastructure in the region, while most countries have so far resisted US President Donald Trump’s call for support in safeguarding commercial activity in the Strait of Hormuz. The rise in oil prices has 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. Tech stocks led the decline, with notable losses from Kioxia Holdings (-4.4%), Fujikura (-4%), Lasertec (-5.2%), Advantest (-2.5%), and SoftBank Group (-1.8%).
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The Nikkei 225 Index Closes 0.26% Higher
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 139 points or 0.26 percent on Tuesday to close at 53890 points. Leading the gains are Kawasaki Kisen (5.95%), Daiichi Sankyo (5.82%) and Taiyo Yuden (5.30%). Top losers were Furukawa Electric (-6.51%), Sumitomo Electric (-5.91%) and Furukawa (-5.25%).
2026-03-17