Japanese stocks are also poised to move higher following gains in U.S. stocks. Expectations are growing that the Nikkei 225 will again approach the 70,000 range.
The Nikkei 225 fell for the first time in 3 sessions, closing at 68,309.46 on 2 October 2026, down 647.26 yen from the previous day. Following the recent advance, profit-taking and selling by investors waiting for a pullback became more prevalent.
In U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at 51,176.96, up $250.40 from the previous day. In the September U.S. employment report, nonfarm payrolls increased by 29,000 from the previous month and the unemployment rate was 4.2%, with the rate remaining relatively high without exceeding market expectations.
Semiconductor and AI-related stocks continued to attract attention, and moves in large-cap stocks such as Nvidia and Microsoft affected the market as a whole. Japanese stocks are expected to remain firm from the start of the week, and some observers see the possibility of renewed buying in AI- and semiconductor-related names.
Market participants expect the Nikkei 225 to test higher levels again this week depending on overseas market developments, and the prospect of a return to the 70,000 range is being discussed.