FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Track Wall Street Declines

On Tuesday, the Nikkei 225 Index declined by 0.97%, concluding the day at 42,394, while the broader Topix Index saw a 1.08% drop, settling at 3,072. This decline halted a two-day climb, reflecting the previous night’s downturn on Wall Street as investors opted to secure gains following last week’s market rally. Market sentiment was further affected by renewed trade tensions, following reports that US President Donald Trump threatened to impose "200% tariffs or something" on China if it failed to supply rare-earth magnets to the US. Adding to market uncertainty, Trump announced the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, citing alleged mortgage fraud, which raised additional concerns about the Federal Reserve's independence. In corporate news, Nissan Motor's stock plummeted 6.3% after Mercedes-Benz disclosed plans to divest its 3.8% stake in the Japanese automaker. Other significant decliners included Sanrio, down 2.9%, Tokyo Electric Power, which fell 5.5%, and Recruit Holdings, decreasing by 3.5%.