Tokyo stocks today: Nikkei starts 2026 higher as TEPCO, chip and defense names lead
Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 3.03% to 51,865 in its first 2026 session, led by a 9.23% jump in TEPCO after it announced plans to restart a reactor this month. Chip and defense stocks rallied, while the yen weakened to 157.295 per dollar. S&P Global’s December manufacturing PMI held at 50.0. Investors now await the BOJ’s Jan. 22-23 meeting and U.S. jobs data due Jan. 9.
