FX.co ★ Nikkei 225 Falls Slightly After Japan Trade Data

The Nikkei 225 index experienced a decline of 76 points, or 0.2%, settling at 37,454 during Wednesday morning's trading, pulling back from a slight increase seen earlier. This shift came as investors assessed Japan's latest trade statistics. April saw a modest 2.0% year-on-year rise in exports, marking the slowest pace of growth in seven months, under intensified pressure from escalating U.S. tariffs. On the import front, Japan saw a smaller than anticipated decrease, highlighting Tokyo's initiatives to bolster domestic demand amid prevailing trade uncertainties. Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's leading trade negotiator, reiterated the country's call for the elimination of U.S. tariffs, against the backdrop of the ongoing third round of trade negotiations. In the U.S., futures markets exhibited a decline, as skepticism about the durability of Wall Street's recent rally increased. Despite this cautious sentiment, the broader Topix index managed a slight gain following a subdued performance the previous day. Notably, early trading losers included Tokio Marine Holdings, down 3.3%; Sony Group Corp., falling 1.9%; Recruit Holdings, declining 1.7%; and SoftBank Group, slipping 0.9%.