The Nikkei 225 fell for a fourth straight session, closing at ¥64,214.48, down ¥111.16 from the previous day. It briefly fell to ¥63,772.80, while trading value on the TSE was approximately ¥7.577 trillion and the TOPIX remained firm. Concerns over rising interest rates and a stronger yen weighed on the market, with sentiment turning cautious ahead of the U.S. jobs report, the FOMC meeting and the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy meeting.
The Nikkei 225 fell for a fourth straight session on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closing at ¥64,214.48, down ¥111.16 from the previous day. Although the index initially traded with a bias toward recovery, expectations of further rate increases and concerns over a stronger yen weighed on the market, widening the decline in the afternoon session. The index briefly fell to ¥63,772.80, down ¥552.84 from the previous day, while the TOPIX remained firm throughout the session.
The move was attributed to concerns over U.S. interest-rate trends and the impact of a stronger yen, with worries over rising rates mounting in both Japan and the United States. The U.S. ISM Services PMI was due on the 3rd and the U.S. jobs report on the 4th, prompting investors to remain on the sidelines. With meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and the Bank of Japan’s Policy Board also scheduled, subdued trading conditions are expected to continue.
Among sectors, AI and semiconductor-related stocks attracted buying during the decline, while some stocks also gained as investors focused on rising interest rates and month-end dividend capture. Nippon Steel, Mizuho FG and NTT, among others, at times updated their year-to-date highs, resulting in divergent performance across individual stocks.
As for market indicators, the TOPIX closed up 0.5% at 4,102.04 points, the TSE Prime Market index stood at 2,115.54 points, and trading value was approximately ¥7.577 trillion. On the TSE Prime Market, 16 sectors, including marine transportation, mining and insurance, recorded more advancers than decliners, while 17 sectors, including Other Products, precision instruments and pharmaceuticals, recorded more decliners.