FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Rebound on Trump Remarks

The Nikkei 225 Index experienced a 1.2% increase, surpassing 53,400, while the broader Topix Index advanced 0.9% to reach 3,622 on Thursday. This rise ended a five-day losing streak as Japanese stocks mirrored gains on Wall Street, spurred by easing geopolitical and trade tensions between the United States and Europe. U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the possibility of using force to acquire Greenland and moderated tariff threats towards European nations after establishing a framework for a prospective agreement. Concurrently, Japan’s exports grew for the fourth month in a row, reaching record levels in December, with steady demand from China despite persistent diplomatic tensions. The technology sector led the upsurge, with companies such as Kioxia Holdings (8.1%), Advantest (2.4%), Lasertec (2.8%), Tokyo Electron (2.5%), and SoftBank Group (1.9%) contributing notably. Prominent banks also saw gains, including Mitsubishi UFJ (up 1.3%), Sumitomo Mitsui (up 1.5%), and Mizuho Financial (rising 2.2%).