The Nikkei 225 added 0.4% to climb above 59,500 on Friday, while the broader Topix slipped 0.5% to 3,708 in choppy trade, as Japanese equities came under pressure from a more than 2% surge in the yen following official intervention to support the currency. The stronger yen weighed on Japan’s export-oriented sectors and diminished the appeal of domestic assets for overseas investors.
Traders also monitored geopolitical risks in the Middle East after President Donald Trump reaffirmed that the US would maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Tehran reiterated it would not abandon its nuclear program and signaled that it would continue to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Stock performance in Tokyo was mixed. Notable gainers included SoftBank Group (+3.1%), Tokyo Electron (+7.9%), and Keyence Corporation (+4.4%). On the downside, declines were led by Kioxia Holdings (-2.0%), Lasertec Corporation (-2.8%), and Nintendo (-2.2%).
