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Nikkei 225

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729 stories mentioning Nikkei 225Updated 5h ago

Japanese stocks opened little changed as investors stayed cautious ahead of the Bank of Japan's interest rate decision.

International

Market Chatter: Japan's Oil Imports Plunge Nearly 50% Amid US-Iran War, Forcing Shift to US Crude

An analysis of tanker tracking data from Kpler showed that Japanese crude oil imports dropped 47% year-on-year from March through May, as the US-Iran conflict disrupts shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, Nikkei reported on Friday.Global Middle Eastern crude exports fell 48% during the period, while Japan experienced the steepest decline among the world's top ten oil importers, dropping from seventh place in 2025 to an even sharper contraction this year, said the news agency.To compensate, Tokyo has pivoted to US crude, which surged from 2% of Japan's petroleum imports in February to over 20% by May, while the share from Saudi Arabia and the UAE fell from 90% to 60%, the publication said.The crisis underscores Japan's vulnerability to Middle Eastern supply disruptions, though the government began releasing strategic reserves in late March and retains enough stockpiled oil to cover more than 200 days of domestic consumption, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225
Asia

Market Chatter: Japanese Hotel Rates Hit Record High in April as US and European Tourists Surge, Chinese Visitors Decline

Average hotel room rates in Japan hit a new April record of 23,397 yen, rising 4.6% from last year's high, Nikkei Asia reported Friday, citing data from STR, a CoStar Group subsidiary.The growth was driven by strong inbound demand from travelers in the U.S., Europe, and Australia, the report said.In contrast, Chinese visitor numbers dropped as Beijing continued to discourage travel to Japan over political tensions, the news daily said.Highlighting the sustained demand, Nikkei noted a tour guide managing two- to three-week itineraries across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, with many of those bookings made more than a year in advance.Hotel demand stayed robust throughout cherry blossom season, supported by favorable weather, Nikkei said.The weak yen also provided a boost in April compared with last year, the report said, citing hotel operator Hilton.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225
Asia

Market Chatter: US, Iran Reach Tentative 60-Day Ceasefire Extension

The U.S. and Iran have tentatively agreed to extend a ceasefire for two months while initiating new negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program, fueling optimism that the ongoing three-month conflict may soon end, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing a source familiar with the discussions.The anonymous source confirmed a prior Axios report, though President Donald Trump has not yet signed off on the terms, the newswire said.While both sides have previously celebrated progress and Trump has often claimed a deal was imminent, the impasse has repeatedly persisted, the publication said.Vice President JD Vance told reporters that the two nations are exchanging proposals on specific language regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities, and noted that Iran appears to be engaging in good faith, with tangible progress underway, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

^BSE^HNX^HOSE^Hang Seng^JKSEFTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI^KOSDAQKOSPINikkei 225^NSE^PSEI^SETShanghai Composite^STI^SZSETaiwan Weighted
International

Higher Crude, Persian Gulf Outlooks Lowers Asian Stock Markets

Asian stock markets largely fell back on Thursday, as crude prices again rose on a dimming outlook for a resolution to Persian Gulf hostilities and a consequent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the red, while Shanghai inched into the green. Other regional exchanges closed lower.Brent crude futures rose to $94.03 a barrel, up 1.9%, during Asian trading hours.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly, wobbled and finished off 0.5% as traders weighed rich equity valuations and fresh uncertainties regarding Middle East peace talks.The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 306.29 to 64,693.12, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 132 to 90.Leading the upside was tech-components maker Taiyo Yuden, up 17%, while advanced materials manufacturer Furukawa Electric declined 7.3%.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and could not recover, closing off 1.3% on reports of new US military strikes on Iranian targets.The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 322.07 to 25,006.16, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 75 to 15. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 0.4% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 1.5%.Leading the upside was toymaker Pop Mart International, gaining 4.7%, while Hansoh Pharmaceutical declined 7.1%.On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.1% to 4,098.64.On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI fell 0.5%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 1.4%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 1.4%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.8%, and the Thai Set declined 0.1%. Exchanges were closed in Mumbai.The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index fell 0.8% on the day.

Hang SengNikkei 225Shanghai Composite
Asia

Market Chatter: Shiruko Sand Snacks Parent Plans Overseas Expansion, Eyes Flagship Store in Singapore

Matsunaga Seika is eyeing an expansion in Japan and overseas, Nikkei Asia reported on Thursday.The maker of Shiruko Sand confectionery targets sales of 10 billion yen in 2032, 2 billion yen of which is expected to come from overseas, the report said.The Japanese company also aims to make Singapore the hub for its push in Southeast Asia, with plans to open a directly operated store in the city-state by around 2028, the news site reported.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225
Asia

Market Chatter: Japan Eyes Bridging Bonds to Anchor Investment Efforts

Japan could channel so-called bridging bonds in supporting Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's investment measures, Bloomberg News reported Thursday, citing Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara.The government will expand on past budget measures that relied on bridging bond issuances, such as those supporting corporate efforts in green technology adoption, the report cited Kihara as saying.Issuers use bridging bonds to cover temporary funding needs, provided that future funding channels can be obtained, the report said.The plan comes as investors express concerns about a rise in bond issuance amid the current administration's pro-spending fiscal stance, with the 10-year government bond yield briefly hitting a new peak since 1996 earlier in May, the report said.While the bridging plan proposal looks to ease worries on large issuances of deficit financing bonds, repayment plan concerns could still put pressure on bonds, the report said.Investors could consider such issuances that grow spending before obtaining steady funding sources as a negative mark against fiscal discipline, the report cited Keisuke Tsuruta, a senior fixed-income strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, as saying.The government assured that it would further push for a controlled approach to fiscal policy by balancing fiscal sustainability through a lower debt-to-GDP ratio with market confidence, the report cited Kihara as saying.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225
Asia

Market Chatter: Japan to Help Philippines Expand Oil Reserves Amid Iran War Risks

Japan will help the Philippines strengthen its oil reserves amid energy supply disruptions caused by the Iran war, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday.Under the plan, experts from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, international organizations, and private firms including Chiyoda will work with Philippine energy officials to develop a framework for expanding the country's oil reserves by the end of 2026, according to the report.Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are expected to reach an agreement during their summit in Tokyo on Thursday, the news outlet reported.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225^PSEI
Asia

Japanese Shares Close Lower After Choppy Session, as Fresh Attacks on Iran Spook Investors

After the choppy trading session, Japanese shares extended its opening losses to close in the red on Thursday as the news of a fresh US military strike on Iran and Kuwaiti reports of missile attacks hit investor sentiment.The Nikkei 225 closed down 306.29 points, or 0.5%, at 64,693.12.News reports quoting US officials said the Central Command forces shot down four Iranian drones that were seen as a threat near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military is also reported to have hit an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas.Investors are also cautious of the US inflation data that may weigh heavy on bonds and interest rates.On the domestic front, Japan's major exports to the Middle East plunged in April amid the ongoing war in the region, according to trade statistics released by country's finance ministry on Thursday.Major exports from the country, including cars and steel pipes, to the Middle East region, fell by 55.8% in value year on year to 138.695 trillion yen in April, affected by the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.On the corporate side, six Toyota Motor (TYO:7203)-affiliated auto suppliers, including Denso (TYO:6902), plan to spend a combined 1.16 trillion yen on research and development for the fiscal year ending March 2027, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday, citing company officials.Also, Sojitz (TYO:2768) plans to bid for public sector projects worth over $6 billion in Australia as part of a bold push into new markets, Nikkei reported on Thursday, citing Sojitz executive Takefumi Nishikawa.

Nikkei 225TYO:6902TYO:7203
International

Japan's Exports to Middle East Nosedive in April Amid War; Motor Vehicle Exports Plunge

Japan's major exports to the Middle East plunged in April amid the ongoing war in the region, according to trade statistics released by country's finance ministry on Thursday.Major exports from the country, including cars and steel pipes, to the Middle East region, fell by 55.8% in value year on year to 138.695 trillion yen in April, affected by the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.The export of motor vehicles fell sharply by 90.8%, including a 90.4% decline in cars and 92.2% slip in the export of trucks and buses to the war-effected region.According to a Nikkei Asia report, Japan's overseas shipments of new passenger cars to the Middle East account for 13% of total exports by value, and 27% of total truck exports and 22% of buses.Imports to the Middle East region also fell 56.8% to 469.224 trillion yen in April.Japan's overall exports by value rose 14.8% from a year earlier in April, while ​imports grew 9.8%.

Nikkei 225
Asia

Japanese Shares Slide as US-Iran Contradictions Dim Hopes for War Breakthrough

Japanese equities declined on Thursday, mirroring losses on Wall Street, following contradictory statements from the US and Iran regarding potential negotiations to end the ongoing conflict.The Nikkei 225 slipped 228.7 points or 0.4% to open at 64,770.76.White House officials dismissed an Iranian media report suggesting peace talks were making progress, while President Donald Trump stated he was "not satisfied" with the discussions, dampening hopes for a quick resolution, according to various reports.The US also rejected claims of a draft interim deal that would have restored normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz within a month, with Trump insisting that no single country should control the vital waterway.Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson, in a prepared speech delivered at a Bank of Japan conference in Tokyo, predicted inflation would ease later this year as tariff effects and elevated energy costs diminish, though he cautioned that upside inflationary risks persist, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.Jefferson also said he is closely monitoring whether higher energy prices stemming from the Iran war are beginning to weigh on economic activity.

Nikkei 225
Asia

Market Chatter: Japan to Help Philippines Boost Oil Reserves as Hormuz Crisis Threatens Supply

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are expected to finalize an agreement for Japan to assist the Philippines in bolstering its oil reserves in an upcoming summit, Nikkei reported on Thursday.Beginning as early as June, specialists from international bodies and Japanese institutions, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, alongside private firms like Chiyoda (TYO:6366) and major trading houses, will travel to the Philippines, the news daily said.Collaborating with the Philippine Department of Energy and the state-owned oil company, these experts plan to deliver a concrete strategy by late 2026, the publication said.Amid concerns over Middle Eastern crude access due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz from the Iran war, and given the Philippines' 50-60 day reserve and over 90% reliance on Middle East imports, Japan, with over 200 days of reserves and five decades of experience, is being looked to by Asian nations for guidance on reserve systems and operations, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225TYO:6366
International

Asian Markets Mixed at Wednesday's Close Amid Tech Stock Rally, Uncertain US-Iran Peace Deal

Asian markets were mixed at Wednesday's close as Wall Street's technology rally overnight matched ongoing uncertainty over a potential US-Iran peace deal.Hong Kong stocks fell sharply on Wednesday as elevated oil prices and uncertainty over the durability of the US-Iran ceasefire weighed on sentiment.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 3.32 points, marginally increasing to 64,999.41 at Wednesday's close.Leading the upside was SHIFT with a 6.1% gain, while bottom performers include SoftBank Group, which lost 7.3% on the day.In regional news, Bloomberg News reported that Japan's 40-year government bonds attracted greater demand compared with its 12-month average as investors flocked to higher yields. Wednesday's sale saw the bid-to-cover ratio reaching 2.70, greater than the 2.54 at the last auction, the report said.Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 1.1%, or 271.22 points, to close at 25,328.23. The Hang Seng TECH Index was down 0.8%.Top movers include Contemporary Amperex Technology, with a 6.4% increase, while CSPC Pharmaceutical Group fell by 5.4% after the session.On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite declined by 1.3% or 51.65 points, to 4,093.73.In economic news, Chinese industrial profits jumped 24.7% year over year in April, rebounding to another record high during the month, led by technology-related goods, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.For other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 2.3%; the Taiwan TWSE advanced by 1.7%; the Australian ASX 200 was up 0.7%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.8%, and the Thai Set inclined 1.1%.MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index was up 0.7%.

Hang SengNikkei 225Shanghai Composite
Treasury

Market Chatter: Demand for Japan's 40-Year Government Bonds Rises on Increased Yields

Japan's 40-year government bonds attracted greater demand compared to its 12-month average as investors flocked to higher yields, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday.Wednesday's sale saw the bid-to-cover ratio reaching 2.70, greater than the 2.54 at the last auction and the 2.47 average for the last 12 months, the report said.Bond yields hit 3.84% against 3.6% in the previous sale and the highest yield estimate of 3.85% in a Bloomberg survey, according to the report.The results point to a "solid 40-year auction" but are "by no means optimistic," amid a decline in bid amount by more than 200 billion yen against a 100 billion yen drop in the issuance amount, the report cited BNP Paribas Asset Management senior bond strategist Ryutaro Kimura as saying.The results came despite higher oil prices due to further developments in the Middle East war, while moves for a supplementary budget without a rise in bond issuance have narrowed bond supply worries, according to the report.The 40-year yield reached a peak of 4.355% earlier in May before dropping to about 4.095%, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225
Asia

Market Chatter: Japan's Spot Power Price Rises Amid Supply Constraints, Higher Temperatures

Japan's spot power price increased 2.4% from the previous day to 22.36 yen per kilowatt-hour on Wednesday, its highest since April 9, Bloomberg News reported.The price increase stemmed from an increase in demand due to forecasts of warmer-than-usual weather as well as narrower fuel supplies due to the Middle East war, the report said.Among Japan's areas, the power rate hit 23.29 yen per kilowatt-hour in Tohoku and 24.39 yen in Tokyo, according to the report.The temperature in Tokyo could hit 31 degrees Celsius on Friday, significantly higher than normal, with the conditions expected to linger through late next week, the report cited weather agency Visalia as saying.In response, the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators requested that TEPCO Power Grid carry out changes in maintenance outage times for Friday, the report said.Japanese utilities have also adopted more coal power generation amid limited LNG supplies due to the Middle East conflict, with levels in the Kansai region reaching their peak since March on Tuesday, according to the report.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225
Asia

Japan Automakers to Further Lag in Electrification Amid Hybrid Focus, Lack of Policy Push, S&P Says

Japan's automakers will further lag global competitors in electrification, S&P Global Ratings said in a Wednesday release.The country's vehicle producers have responded to the rising demand for low-carbon vehicles by offering hybrids, but this is unlikely to make them competitive with foreign peers, S&P said.The strategy will also fail to anchor Japan's long-term decarbonization efforts, while the country's policy conditions do not encourage automakers to accelerate their shift to full electrification, the rating agency said.Japan's policies have focused on incentivizing demand, with no decisive incentives for the producers, unlike other markets such as South Korea and Europe where both sides are being prioritized, S&P said.S&P considers Japan's battery electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid adoption as among the laggards in G-7 countries.The country's auto sector decarbonization mainly stems from fuel efficiency rather than electrification, with above 95% of electrified auto sales still accounting for internal combustion engines, S&P said.

Nikkei 225
Asia

Japanese Shares Nearly Flat After Historic 66,000 Morning Breakout

Japanese stocks pared a historic morning rally, sparked by overnight gains in U.S. technology shares, to finish almost entirely flat on Wednesday, as late-session profit-taking erased a major tech-driven breakout.The Nikkei 225 closed virtually unchanged, up just 3.32 points to finish at 64,999.41.Chip-related stocks in Japan spearheaded the morning sentiment, with heavyweights Advantest (TYO:6857) and Tokyo Electron (TYO:8035) both surging more than 5% intraday before trimming gains by the closing bell.On the domestic front, the yen's real effective exchange rate has dropped to its lowest level since the 1970s, severely eroding Japan's external purchasing power as persistent trade deficits and volatile oil import costs compound structural selling pressure, Nikkei reported Wednesday, citing the Brookings Institution's Robin Brooks.Meanwhile, on the corporate side, Japanese machinery manufacturer Nabtesco (TYO:6268) plans to begin mass production of fully electric power steering systems for large commercial vehicles in 2027, Nikkei reported Wednesday.Murata Manufacturing (TYO:6981) declared a year-end dividend of 35 yen per share for fiscal year 2025, matching earlier forecasts and higher than the 30 yen per share paid a year ago.

Nikkei 225TYO:6268TYO:6857TYO:6981TYO:8035
Asia

Market Chatter: Dampened Aluminum Supply Amid Middle East War to Squeeze Japan's Auto Industry

Japan's auto industry will feel the weight of constrained supplies of aluminum and related alloy products due to the Middle East war through 2027, Nikkei Asia reported Wednesday.Aluminum prices skyrocketed following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and have remained above prewar levels, with benchmark aluminum futures in London priced at more than $3,600 per metric ton, the report said.Iranian strikes on key smelters and input shortages for production facilities have also impacted output, which could lead to a loss of more than 3 million tons from the market in 2026, the report cited Wood Mackenzie senior research manager Uday Patel as saying.Analysts expect the aluminum market to recover only after 2028, the report said.Japan is the most reliant on the Middle East for aluminum and related alloys among the five largest importers of the metal, the report cited 2024 data from the UN Comtrade database as saying.Premiums paid by Japanese companies in addition to the LME spot price for aluminum increased to $350 to $353 per ton for the April to June quarter, from $195 in the past quarter, according to the report.The beverage sector is the largest aluminum consumer in Japan, while small and medium-sized companies in the auto and construction industries are also dependent on Middle East-sourced ones, the report cited a representative of the Japan Aluminum Association as saying.The auto industry has been carrying out efforts to counter the supply constraints, including changing procurement across multiple routes, the report quoted Koji Sato, chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, as saying.Cost pressure is also a main concern for major auto companies, with Mitsubishi Motors (TYO:7211), Toyota Motor (TYO:7203), and Nissan Motor (TYO:7201) all expecting hits in their earnings due to higher material costs, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225TYO:7201TYO:7203TYO:7211
Asia

Japanese Stocks Rally on US-Iran Peace Deal Hopes Despite Ongoing Gulf Strikes

Japanese stocks rose at the open on Wednesday, driven by expectations that the US and Iran will sign a peace deal even as military strikes continue in the Persian Gulf.The Nikkei 225 jumped 781.8 points, or 1.2%, to open at 65,777.87.US President Donald Trump said ceasefire extension and Strait of Hormuz reopening talks are advancing.However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that any agreement would likely take several more days to finalize, according to various reports.Meanwhile, commercial shipping through the Strait gained modest momentum over the past day, with at least two non-Iranian supertankers leaving the Persian Gulf, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.This marks the first time in a week that four million barrels of unsanctioned crude have been observed crossing the waterway, with vessels departing in clusters followed by lighter flows in subsequent days, the newswire said.

Nikkei 225
Asia

Market Chatter: Yen's Real Effective Rate Hits Record Low

The yen's real-term strength has dropped to its lowest since the 1970s, hurting Japan's external purchasing power as trade deficits and rising oil prices add to structural selling pressure, Nikkei reported Wednesday, citing the Brookings Institution's Robin Brooks.Over the weekend, Brooks posted on X that the Japanese yen has dropped below the Turkish lira in real effective terms, making it now the world's weakest currency, the news daily said.Brooks referred to the real effective exchange rate, which measures the yen's overall strength against multiple currencies by adjusting for price changes and trade volumes, the publication said.This rate increases when a country's inflation outpaces others and decreases when it lags behind, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225
Asia

Market Chatter: Japan Plans 3 Trillion Yen Extra Budget to Counter Energy Costs Amid Iran Crisis

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government will draft a supplementary budget of over 3 trillion yen for fiscal 2026 to counter rising energy prices from prolonged Middle East tensions, the Mainichi reported on Monday.She said the draft budget would likely go to parliament as early as next week, along with a previously announced 500 billion yen reserve measure to cut household utility bills by about 5,000 yen from July to September, the news daily reported.This reassurance follows market fears over Japan's strained finances and rising inflation, which have driven 10-year bond yields to near three-decade highs, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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