FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Follow Wall Street Higher

On Friday, the Nikkei 225 Index experienced a modest increase of 0.1% to approximately 39,690 points, while the broader Topix Index advanced by 0.35 to reach 2,820 points. This rise marked a recovery from losses incurred in the previous session and mirrored gains on Wall Street, where both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite achieved new record highs. Despite this uptick, investor sentiment remained tempered due to escalating US-Japan trade tensions. President Donald Trump announced the imposition of a 25% tariff on Japanese imports, slated to commence on August 1. In reaction to this development, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba underscored the necessity for Japan to diminish its dependence on the US in key sectors including defense, food, and energy. He characterized the tariff discussions as a significant "battle concerning national interests." Technology stocks were at the forefront of Friday's growth, with notable performances from companies such as Advantest, which rose by 1.7%, Lasertec, which increased by 1.9%, and Disco, which climbed by 0.9%.