Japanese shares rose on Wednesday as markets reopened following a one-day holiday. The Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2% to around 35,900, while the broader Topix Index climbed 0.7% to 2,670, extending recent gains. Investor sentiment was buoyed by comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the US held "substantial talks" with Japan regarding a potential trade agreement. However, domestic data provided a mixed picture—industrial production declined more than expected in March, and retail sales growth fell short of forecasts. Attention now shifts to the Bank of Japan's upcoming policy decision, where the central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates steady at 0.5% as it gauges the potential impact of US tariffs on Japan's export-driven economy. Leading gainers included Toyota Industries (+4.7%), Mitsubishi UFJ (+2.4%), Nintendo (+2.0%), Sony Group (+5.2%), and Advantest (+2.1%).
Retail sales in Japan increased by 3.1% year-on-year in March 2025, up from a downwardly revised 1.3% growth in the previous month, but below market expectations of a 3.5% rise. This marked the 36th straight month of expansion in retail sales, with rising wages continuing to support consumption. Sales grew for fuel (1.8%), automobile (1.5%), machinery & equipment (6.7%), clothing & personal goods (7.6%), food & beverage (1.9%), non-store retailers (3.1%), other retailers (4.1%), and pharmaceuticals & cosmetics (3.7%). By contrast, sales fell for department stores (-1.2%). On a monthly basis, retail sales dropped by 1.2% in March, the first monthly decline in three months, reversing a downwardly revised 0.4% gain in February.

Source: trading economi