FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Rise as Oil Prices Ease

The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.69% to close at 63,923, while the broader Topix Index gained 0.61% to finish at 4,062 on Wednesday, reversing earlier losses as easing oil prices alleviated pressure on equities. Crude prices fell after US oil inventories unexpectedly increased, even as concerns about potential supply disruptions in the Middle East persisted. Global bond yields also stabilized following their recent climb, with investors shifting focus to major central bank policy decisions scheduled for this week. In Japan, data showed that exports grew more than expected in August, supported by strong demand for AI-related chips despite ongoing supply chain disruptions tied to the Middle East conflict. Technology and AI-related stocks were among the notable gainers, including Taiyo Yuden (up 1.8%), Advantest (1.8%), Murata Manufacturing (3.2%), Fujikura (2%), and Tokyo Electron (2.1%).