Japan’s Nikkei ends at record high as yen weakens, economy shows resilience

[TOKYO] Japan’s Nikkei closed at an all-time high on Friday (Aug 15), as the yen weakened and data showed the nation’s economy was surprisingly resilient.

The Nikkei 225 Index accelerated gains in the afternoon session, surging 1.7 per cent to end at a record peak of 43,378.31. It touched an intraday record high of 43,451.46 earlier in the week. The broader Topix jumped 1.6 per cent to 3,107.68, also a record closing level.

The overnight drop in yen provided support to exporters’ shares, while data released on Friday showed Japan’s economy expanded at an annualised rate of 1 per cent in the April-June quarter, beating forecasts. Analysts expect the full impact of US tariffs on growth to emerge later.

Rising US Treasury yields and comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday that the Bank of Japan will likely be raising interest rates were factors behind a jump in financial shares, Nomura Securities strategist Wataru Akiyama said.

“Expectations for improved performance due to rising domestic interest rates are acting as a tailwind, leading to relatively large increases in bank and insurance company shares today,” he said.

Banks were the biggest gainers in the Topix, with a sub-index of lenders climbing 4.7 per cent to its highest level since May 2006. Shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group rose 6 per cent, marking an eighth consecutive session of gains and hitting a record high.

There were 177 advancers on the Nikkei index against 46 decliners. REUTERS