The Nikkei 225 Index Closes 0.77% Lower

The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.58% to close at 51,064, while the broader Topix Index dropped 1.26% to 3,498 on Tuesday, marking a fourth straight session of losses as heightened uncertainties surrounding the Middle East conflict weighed on investor sentiment. The Nikkei and Topix also declined 13.23% and 11.19%, respectively, for March, recording their worst monthly performances since the 2008 global financial crisis. Japan continued to grapple with elevated energy costs driven by the Iran war, reflecting its heavy reliance on oil imports from the region. The US has sent mixed signals on efforts to end the conflict, with recent reports suggesting President Donald Trump is willing to end the US military campaign against Iran even without the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly all sectors fell on Tuesday, with technology, financial, consumer, and defense stocks leading the decline.

The Nikkei 225 Index fell -401 points or 0.77 percent on Tuesday to close at 51485 points. Leading the losses are Fujikura (-8.61%), Furukawa Electric (-6.83%) and Sumco (-6.62%). Top gainers were Nippon Light (4.22%), Teijin (3.83%) and Denso (3.52%).

The Nikkei 225 Index fell 2.2% to below 50,800, while the broader Topix Index dropped 1.4% to 3,492 on Tuesday, marking a fourth consecutive session of losses as oil prices rallied further on fresh escalations in the Middle East conflict. In recent developments, Iran struck a Kuwaiti oil tanker near a Dubai port, highlighting heightened risks for shipping in the Persian Gulf and further restricting global access to Middle East energy. Markets continued to grapple with the potential inflation shock, causing a sharp selloff in equities. Technology stocks led the decline, with steep losses from Kioxia Holdings (-5.8%), Advantest (-4.8%), Lasertec (-5.5%), Disco Corp (-4.8%), and SoftBank Group (-4.3%), while heavyweight financial, defense, and consumer stocks also came under pressure. The Nikkei and Topix are set to fall more than 13% and 11%, respectively, for the month.