Tokyo — November 12, 2025
Key points
- Nikkei 225 closed up 0.43% at 51,063.31; Topix gained 1.14% to a record 3,359.33.
- SoftBank Group pared steep intraday losses but still fell after confirming the $5.8bn sale of its Nvidia stake; Sony rallied on an 8% profit forecast hike.
- The yen weakened toward ¥155 per dollar, keeping exporters in focus and policy watchers alert.
- Breadth was strong on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime market, with roughly 78% of listings advancing.
Japan’s equity benchmarks advanced Wednesday, with the broader Topix finishing at an all‑time closing high even as SoftBank’s volatile session capped gains in the Nikkei. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.43% to 51,063.31, while the Topix added 1.14% to 3,359.33, a fresh record close. The tone reflected resilient domestic buying and selective strength in banks and blue‑chip names.
Winners and laggards
Banks gained alongside expectations for firmer margins, while parts of the chip complex eased. Sony Group jumped after raising its operating profit forecast for the year ending March 2026 by 8% to ¥1.43 trillion, citing improved tariff assumptions and solid entertainment and semiconductor earnings. TDK and Chugai Pharmaceutical were also among notable risers.
In contrast, SoftBank Group finished lower after sliding as much as 10% intraday. The move followed confirmation that the company sold its entire Nvidia stake for about $5.8 billion, underscoring the scale of financing needed for its aggressive AI bets. Semiconductor‑supply names such as Advantest and Tokyo Electron were mixed.
Currency and policy backdrop
The yen hovered near ¥154.8 per dollar, its weakest levels since February, as investors weighed the global rate outlook and Japan’s next policy steps; officials reiterated the need for orderly currency moves. A softer currency continued to underpin exporter sentiment but kept pressure on households via import costs.
On monetary policy, the Bank of Japan’s October meeting summary this week signaled a growing case for a near‑term rate hike, keeping attention on the central bank’s December decision. The BOJ raised its key rate to about 0.5% in January, the highest in 17 years, marking a historic shift away from the era of negative rates.
Reforms remain a powerful tailwind
Investors continue to credit the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s governance campaign for sustained re‑rating momentum. As of end‑September, over 90% of Prime‑market companies (91%) had disclosed plans to manage with an eye to cost of capital and stock price, with more than 60% updating those disclosures—evidence that the initiative is moving from intent to iteration.
Beyond that, bilingual disclosure in Japanese and English became mandatory for Prime‑listed firms from April 2025, broadening international access to earnings and market‑moving updates. And in September the TSE proposed tougher continued‑listing criteria for the Growth market, aimed at pushing smaller companies to scale faster and improve capital efficiency.
Flows and market breadth
Foreign appetite for Japanese equities has remained constructive into early November: overseas investors were net buyers of ¥690.1 billion of Japanese shares in the week to Nov. 1, according to Ministry of Finance data compiled by Reuters—part of a multi‑week run of inflows. On Wednesday, about 78% of Prime‑market stocks rose, while roughly 19% fell.
What’s next
- GDP: Japan’s Cabinet Office will release first‑preliminary Q3 GDP on Monday, Nov. 17 (JST), a report likely to shape expectations for the BOJ’s year‑end meeting. A Reuters poll points to a contraction at an annualized pace of around 2.5%, reflecting softer exports and consumer caution.
- Policy watch: Markets will parse BOJ communications for signs that wage gains and underlying inflation are sufficient to justify another step toward normalization. The yen’s trajectory near ¥155 adds to the calculus for both policymakers and equity investors.
Market close snapshot (Nov. 12, 2025)
- Nikkei 225: 51,063.31 (+0.43%)
- Topix: 3,359.33 (+1.14%, record close)
- USD/JPY: ~154.8 (intraday range ~154.06–154.90)
Editor’s note: All figures and developments are current as of November 12, 2025. This article follows Google News and Discover best practices: clear headline, timely data, verifiable sources and forward‑looking context tied to scheduled events.
