Japanese Shares Hold Near Record Highs

2026-04-17 00:46 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.8% toward 59,000 on Friday, pulling back from record highs as investors weighed prospects of a permanent ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

In the latest developments, US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that the conflict with Iran could end soon, claiming Tehran had agreed to terms including abandoning nuclear ambitions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

He also announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a move that could support further US-Iran negotiations.

In Japan, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank must take Japan’s low real rates into account when setting policy.

Markets remain divided on whether the BOJ will raise interest rates again later this month.

Tech stocks led the pullback, with losses from Kioxia Holdings (-2.3%), SoftBank Group (-1.2%), Lasertec (-3%), Tokyo Electron (-2.9%), and Fujikura (-0.5%).



News Stream
Asian Stocks Fall on Profit-Taking
Asian equity markets declined on Friday as investors took profits following a strong rally driven by growing optimism over a potential end to the US-Iran conflict. US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that the war with Iran would conclude soon, saying Tehran had agreed to terms including abandoning nuclear ambitions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a move seen as potentially supporting further US-Iran negotiations. Shares across Australia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and China all moved lower, though regional benchmarks remain on track for weekly gains despite the pullback.
2026-04-17
Japanese Shares Hold Near Record Highs
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.8% toward 59,000 on Friday, pulling back from record highs as investors weighed prospects of a permanent ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran. In the latest developments, US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that the conflict with Iran could end soon, claiming Tehran had agreed to terms including abandoning nuclear ambitions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He also announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a move that could support further US-Iran negotiations. In Japan, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank must take Japan’s low real rates into account when setting policy. Markets remain divided on whether the BOJ will raise interest rates again later this month. Tech stocks led the pullback, with losses from Kioxia Holdings (-2.3%), SoftBank Group (-1.2%), Lasertec (-3%), Tokyo Electron (-2.9%), and Fujikura (-0.5%).
2026-04-17
Japan’s Nikkei Hits Fresh Record High
The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 2.38% to close at 59,518 on Thursday, hitting a new all-time high as optimism grew around a potential agreement to end the Middle East conflict. Reports indicated Washington and Tehran are considering extending their two-week ceasefire to allow more time for peace negotiations, even as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed under a dual blockade. Japanese equities also followed Wall Street’s record-setting rally overnight, supported by robust bank earnings and renewed interest in technology shares. Tech and AI-related stocks led the advance, with strong gains from SoftBank Group (5.1%), Kioxia Holdings (4.5%), and Fujikura (4.7%). Daikin Industries also surged 9.1% after activist investor Elliott Investment Management disclosed a stake in the company and called for reforms to unlock shareholder value.
2026-04-16