On Monday, the Japanese stock market showed positive momentum, driven by recent changes in U.S. trade policy. The exclusion of smartphones and other electronics from the list of goods subject to high tariffs provided a boost to the stocks of companies involved in the production of devices like the iPhone. This event has emerged as a crucial factor influencing the upward movement of key Japanese indices, including the Nikkei and Topix.
Last Friday, the Japanese Nikkei share average ended the week with a nearly 5% drop, a stark reminder of the market’s volatility amid ongoing global uncertainties. The trading session closed at 32,931.30 points, while the broader Topix index fell by 4.7% to 2,419.67 according to GMT data. This significant downturn comes in the wake of a turbulent week driven by the rapidly escalating trade dispute between the United States and China, as well as a surge in the Japanese yen due to a notable inflow of funds into safe-haven assets.
Recently, shares of Seven & i Holdings Co. $3382.T faced significant pressure following the company's management's failed attempt to initiate a stock buyback amounting to a record 9 trillion yen (60 billion dollars). This situation has intensified competition with Canadian Alimentation Couchetard Inc., prompting the company to reconsider its options.
Recently, the Japanese stock market experienced a boost due to stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings from companies like Sanrio $8136.T and Sony Group $6758.T. This improvement helped enhance overall market sentiment, despite concerns regarding potential new tariffs from the U.S. for automotive manufacturers following comments from Donald Trump.