FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Gain on Global Trade Optimism

The Nikkei 225 Index experienced an increase of 0.49% to conclude at 35,039, while the broader Topix Index rose by 0.32% to 2,593 on Thursday. This marked the second consecutive session of gains for Japanese equities, mirroring positive movements on Wall Street. The uplift was sparked by remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, indicating a more lenient approach toward Chinese tariffs. Additionally, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted the potential for reaching a significant trade agreement between the United States and China. In contrast, reports surfaced that the U.S. informed Japan’s trade delegation that no special exemptions would be granted under the current U.S. tariff framework, despite Japan’s appeals for policy reassessment. On monetary matters, the Bank of Japan is anticipated to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 0.5% during its upcoming meeting next week. Technology and consumer sector stocks drove the market gains, with significant advancements registered by Tokyo Electron (+3.7%), Advantest (+3.2%), SoftBank Group (+3.2%), Nintendo (+5.6%), and Toyota Motor (+2.9%).