FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Fall as US-Japan Trade Talks Stall

The Nikkei 225 Index declined by 0.4%, dipping below 39,700, while the broader Topix Index fell by 0.6% to reach 2,810 on Thursday. This downturn reversed the gains seen in the previous session as the impasse in trade talks between the United States and Japan dampened market sentiment. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump declared the imposition of a 25% tariff on Japanese goods, which is set to be enforced starting August 1, with no extensions to the deadline being considered. In response, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed that the decision was "truly regrettable," yet assured Japan's readiness to continue discussions with the hope of achieving a mutually favorable agreement. An economic think tank projected that the newly imposed tariffs would result in a 0.8% reduction in Japan's GDP by 2025 and a cumulative 1.9% decrease by 2029. Key stocks that experienced significant losses included Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which fell by 1.6%, Tokyo Electron (-1.1%), Nintendo (-1.5%), Kokusai Electric (-3%), and Tokio Marine Holdings (-2.1%).