Key Facts
• September 16: Nikkei Index rose 134.15 points to 44,902.27, a record high.
• Briefly surpassed 45,000 for the first time, peaking at 45,055.38.
• U.S. interest rate cut expectations boosted semiconductor-related stocks.
• TOPIX closed 0.25% higher at 3,168.36; Prime Market Index rose 0.25% to 1,631.01.
• Trading volume on the Tokyo Stock Exchange reached 5.048 trillion yen.
• 26 of 33 sectors gained, led by petroleum, transportation equipment, and agriculture.
• Key gainers: Advantest, Tokyo Electron, SoftBank Group, and Disco.
• Major decliners: H.I.S. (due to lowered earnings forecast), Nintendo, and Bandai Namco.
• Political developments: Two candidates announced bids for Japan’s ruling party leadership.
• Market sentiment cautious ahead of U.S. and Japan monetary policy events.
Summary
The Nikkei Index extended its rally for a fourth consecutive day on September 16, closing at a record 44,902.27, driven by strong performance in tech stocks amid U.S. interest rate cut expectations. The index briefly surpassed the 45,000 mark for the first time, peaking at 45,055.38 before retreating due to profit-taking. TOPIX and the Prime Market Index also posted gains, with trading volume exceeding 5 trillion yen. Key sectors such as petroleum and transportation equipment led the gains, while semiconductor-related stocks like Advantest and Tokyo Electron performed strongly. However, H.I.S. saw significant losses following a downward revision of its earnings forecast. Political developments, including announcements of leadership bids within Japan’s ruling party, added to market uncertainty. Investors remained cautious ahead of upcoming monetary policy events in the U.S. and Japan.
