FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Gain on Tech Boost

On Wednesday, the Nikkei 225 rose by 0.39%, closing at 38,942, while the Topix Index experienced a slight increase of 0.03% to end at 2,782. This upward trend continued from the previous session, driven by gains in Japanese tech stocks mirroring Wall Street's robust performance. Leading the charge were chip-related companies, with Advantest and Tokyo Electron both seeing a rise of 3.3%, and Lasertec climbing 2.4%. Other notable contributors to the market's strength included Fujikura, which went up by 1.3%, Nintendo with a 3.7% increase, and Mitsui E&S advancing by 2.5%. On the monetary policy front, the Bank of Japan's recent Summary of Opinions re-emphasized a cautious approach to monetary tightening, due to lingering economic uncertainties. While future interest rate hikes are anticipated to depend on meeting inflation and growth benchmarks, several policymakers stressed the continued necessity for a supportive stance amid ongoing global trade tensions and geopolitical challenges.