The Nikkei 225 rose ¥882.07 from the previous day to ¥50,018.95 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the 18th, marking its third consecutive day of gains. Against the backdrop of the Bank of Japan’s decision to raise interest rates, the gain temporarily exceeded ¥1,300 in the afternoon.
Following gains in U.S. stocks, AI and semiconductor-related stocks were bought in the Tokyo market, supporting the Nikkei 225’s rise. The Bank of Japan’s decision to raise interest rates, in line with market expectations, provided reassurance to investors, although the gain narrowed at times toward the end of the session.
After trading ended, investors indicated that they wanted to assess developments at the Bank of Japan governor’s press conference, and market momentum was somewhat restrained. The Nikkei 225’s TOPIX traded slightly lower.
As a result, the Nikkei 225’s closing price showed a substantial increase from the previous day, marking its third consecutive day of gains. TOPIX avoided opening at its high for the day, while a cautious tone remained across the market.