The Nikkei 225 Index Closes 2.19% Lower

The Nikkei 225 Index declined 1.93% to 64,011, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.65% to 4,028 on Friday, with both benchmarks recording steep weekly losses as elevated oil prices and rising global bond yields weighed on equities. Investors also awaited the US CPI report after Thursday’s PPI data showed wholesale prices picked up last month, strengthening expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike next week. Domestically, the Bank of Japan is likewise expected to raise interest rates, with board member Kazuyuki Masu indicating that policymakers will continue tightening and gradually reduce monetary support as underlying inflation approaches the 2% target. Technology and AI-related shares led the selloff, with Kioxia Holdings falling 7%, SoftBank Group dropping 4%, Advantest losing 6.5%, Tokyo Electron declining 2.6% and Taiyo Yuden retreating 2.1%.

The Nikkei 225 Index dropped 1427 points or 2.19 percent on Friday to close at 63844 points. Losses were led by Resonac Holdings (-10.62%), Toppan (-7.33%) and Sumitomo Metal Mining (-6.95%).

The Nikkei 225 Index fell 3% to below 63,500, while the broader Topix Index declined 1.9% to 3,977 on Friday, with both benchmarks heading for steep weekly losses as surging oil prices and global bond yields weighed heavily on equities. Investors also braced for the US CPI report after Thursday’s PPI data showed wholesale prices accelerated last month, reinforcing expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike next week. Domestically, the Bank of Japan is also expected to raise rates, with board member Kazuyuki Masu signaling that the central bank will continue tightening policy and scale back monetary support as underlying inflation moves closer to its 2% target. Among individual stocks, notable declines came from major companies including Kioxia Holdings (-6.9%), SoftBank Group (-5.9%), Advantest (-6.2%), Mitsubishi UFJ (-1.8%) and Fast Retailing (-1.2%).