Japanese Shares Pull Back from Record Highs
2026-05-26 07:01
By
Jam Kaimo Samonte
1 min. read
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.25% to close at 64,996 while the broader Topix Index lost 0.1% to 3,938 on Tuesday, with both benchmarks easing from record highs as investors locked in profits while monitoring the latest developments in the Middle East.
The US military reportedly targeted missile launch sites and vessels suspected of attempting to deploy mines in southern Iran, although President Donald Trump said talks with Tehran were progressing well.
On the domestic front, Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino said the central bank remains committed to further interest-rate hikes, though the timing and pace would depend on how the Middle East conflict affects Japan’s economy and inflation outlook.
Technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks retreated after leading Monday’s rally, with losses from Kioxia Holdings (-4.6%), Fujikura (-4%), and Advantest (-6.1%).
In contrast, SoftBank Group surged another 10.9% and is now up more than 50% over the past four sessions.