12.09.202506:53:52UTC+00Japanese Shares Extend Record Rally

The Nikkei 225 rose by 0.89%, closing at 44,768, while the Topix saw an increase of 0.4%, ending at 3,160 on Friday. Japanese equities achieved new record levels, mirroring the previous night's gains in Wall Street. On Thursday, all three major U.S. indices reached new peaks driven by indications of a cooler labor market and tempered inflation, which boosted hopes for more substantial rate reductions from the Federal Reserve. In Japan, investors are continuously evaluating the Bank of Japan's policy direction amidst mixed economic indicators and political instability. This follows Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's recent resignation, which was prompted by increasing pressure after an electoral defeat last year and growing divisions within the ruling party. Among significant stock movements, Tokyo Electron experienced a 5.5% surge, while SoftBank Group and Advantest both advanced by 1.8%. Over the week, the Nikkei saw a cumulative rise of 4.8%, and the Topix gained 2.77%.