On 2 October 2026, the Nikkei average fell for the first time in 3 sessions, closing at ¥68,309.46. Investors refrained from active trading ahead of the release of the U.S. employment report.
The Nikkei average entered an adjustment phase after rising through the previous day. It fell for the first time in 3 sessions, settling at ¥68,309.46 at the close. By stock, declines in automakers and Fast Retailing stood out, while AI- and semiconductor-related stocks moved in both directions.
In the U.S. market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average continued to rise, closing $250.40 higher than the previous day at $51,176.96. The September U.S. employment report showed nonfarm payroll growth below market expectations, prompting a reassessment of the outlook for rate hikes.
Large-cap tech stocks such as GPU-related Nvidia and Microsoft supported the market, and Japanese equities were expected to remain firm from the start of the week. There were also instances of increased appetite for AI- and semiconductor-related stocks.
With the South Korean and Chinese markets closed next week, some observers said funds from overseas short-term investors could become concentrated in Japanese equities. A situation in which the Nikkei average again comes into view of the ¥70,000 range is also anticipated.