The Nikkei 225 index closed higher on Friday, December 19, 2025, rising by around 1.16% to 49,568. This gain attracted attention because it occurred amidst news of a Bank of Japan (BOJ) interest rate hike, which typically depresses the stock market. The key factor: although the BOJ raised interest rates 25 bps to 0.75%, its policy tone remained cautious and gradual, so the market assessed that further increases would not be aggressive. This meant that investors felt the risk of a "painful" tightening for the economy was not yet too great. Furthermore, the yen's weakening following the...
The Nikkei 225 index fell 2.63% to close at 38,054, while the broader Topix index dropped 1.9% to 2,644 on Friday, extending losses from the previous session and mirroring declines on Wall Street on disappointing corporate news from Microsoft and Meta Platforms. Local stocks also came under pressure as the yen rose following a less dovish statement from the Bank of Japan and signs of easing price pressures in the U.S. The stronger yen hurt the earnings outlook for Japan's export-heavy industries. Technology stocks were particularly hard hit, with significant losses for Advantest (-4.4%),...
The Hang Seng Index opened 0.3% higher at 20,376.93 in Hong Kong. Meituan contributed the most to the index gain, increasing 2.3%. China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. had the largest increase, rising 3.1%. In early trading, 41 of 82 shares rose, while 37 fell; 3 of 4 sectors were higher, led by finance stocks. Source : Bloomberg
Japanese stocks fell after the yen strengthened as much as 1% against the dollar overnight and US technology shares slumped. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 2% as of 9:12 a.m. in Tokyo, while the broader Topix slipped 1.3%. Exporters such as automakers and technology companies were among the heaviest drags on the Topix. The yen reached a one-week high of 151.79 per dollar, after jumping as much as 1% on Thursday. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Thursday that currency markets have had a major impact on the economy, pointing to another potential...
Asia-Pacific markets are set for a mixed open on Friday, after Wall Street benchmarks the Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 posted their worst day in nearly two months on a downbeat Microsoft earnings forecast and MetaTrader results. Traders await a raft of economic data from the region, including Australia's third-quarter producer price index reading and China's Caixin manufacturing purchasing managers' index for October. Japan's Nikkei 225 appears set for a weaker open, with futures in Chicago at 38,470 and its Osaka counterpart at 38,370 against the index's last close of...