The Nikkei 225 ended ¥850 above the previous day's close at ¥66,364, recovering the ¥66,000 level. Attention next week will focus on the Bank of Japan's release of its meeting minutes and the U.S. employment report.
The Nikkei 225 traded around ¥850 higher throughout the day in the Tokyo market, ending at ¥66,364. After opening in a rangebound tone, buying of AI and semiconductor-related stocks prevailed, allowing the index to recover the ¥66,000 level. The morning close was ¥66,318, and the index remained near its high in the afternoon, marking its fifth consecutive gain.
Among individual stocks, Komatsu Ltd. rose 6.0% to ¥7,640 after an upgrade to its investment rating and target price was viewed as a positive catalyst. Rakuten Group, Inc., meanwhile, fell after renewing its year-to-date low, with the size of its interest-bearing debt prompting selling. Shimizu Corporation also fell on concerns over worsening supply-demand conditions after announcing the issuance of bonds with stock acquisition rights, although the company was also reported to be expanding its share buybacks.
Next week, the Bank of Japan is scheduled to release the minutes of its monetary policy meeting, while the U.S. employment report for September is also due. Market attention is expected to focus on these indicators.