Japanese Shares Set for Strong Weekly Gain
2026-06-19 01:02
By
Jam Kaimo Samonte
1 min. read
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.7% to above 71,400, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.1% to 4,064 in mixed trading on Friday, as investors assessed data showing Japan’s core inflation remained steady at 1.4% in May.
The reading matched expectations and indicated that underlying price pressures stayed contained despite concerns that elevated energy costs could fuel inflation.
Despite Friday’s mixed performance, the Nikkei and Topix were on track to advance more than 8% and 4%, respectively, for the week as the US-Iran peace agreement took effect, driving oil prices lower and easing inflation worries.
Japanese equities also drew support from a global rally in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related stocks, helping offset the impact of hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve.
Among sectors, technology shares mostly advanced on Friday, while financial, industrial, and consumer stocks were generally weaker.