Market Update
Japan's Nikkei 225 Turned Lower, GDP Contracted In Third Quarter Amid Weak Exports
Akira Ito
17 Nov, 2025
Tokyo
Japan's benchmark indexes extended losses from the previous session, as investors reacted to the fast-developing global market gloom.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 0.3%, and the broader Topix fell 0.5% as the yen hovered at a one-year low.
High-priced AI stocks faced additional selling pressure on Monday following volatile trading on Wall Street on Friday.
Japan's GDP Contracted In the third quarter Amid U.S. Tariff Headwinds
Closer to home, the economy contracted at a slower than expected pace in the third quarter, according to the latest data released by the Cabinet Office.
GDP contracted at an annual pace of 1.8% from a year ago, slower than the 2.5%, after exports of goods and services turned negative 1.2% compared to a growth of 2.3% in the second quarter.
The net contribution of the exports eased to a negative 0.2% from a negative 0.3% in the period a year ago.
Japan's goods exports contracted for four consecutive months since May before rebounding in September after the Trump administration lowered U.S. tariffs to 15% from 25% on August 7.
The rising government spending supported a 2.2% increase in public demand, offset by a 1.8% decrease in private demand, driven by a 32.5% plunge in private residential investment.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 0.3% to 50,216.63, and the broader Topix declined 0.5% to 3,343.20.
The AI supply chain-driven semiconductor equipment makers led the decliners in Tokyo's trading on Monday.
Tokyo Electron increased 3% to ¥32,820.0, Advantest Corp. gained 1.3% to ¥19,780.0, and Disco Corp. added 0.9% to ¥47,710.0.
Softbank Group advanced 2.7% to ¥20,300.0, Sanrio Co. Ltd. plunged 7.9% to ¥5,354.0, Fast Retailing decreased 5.3% to ¥53,530.0, and Nidec declined 8.2% to ¥2,062.0.
Japan's Nikkei 225 Turned Lower, GDP Contracted In Third Quarter Amid Weak Exports
Akira Ito
17 Nov, 2025
Tokyo
Japan's benchmark indexes extended losses from the previous session, as investors reacted to the fast-developing global market gloom.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 0.3%, and the broader Topix fell 0.5% as the yen hovered at a one-year low.
High-priced AI stocks faced additional selling pressure on Monday following volatile trading on Wall Street on Friday.
Japan's GDP Contracted In the third quarter Amid U.S. Tariff Headwinds
Closer to home, the economy contracted at a slower than expected pace in the third quarter, according to the latest data released by the Cabinet Office.
GDP contracted at an annual pace of 1.8% from a year ago, slower than the 2.5%, after exports of goods and services turned negative 1.2% compared to a growth of 2.3% in the second quarter.
The net contribution of the exports eased to a negative 0.2% from a negative 0.3% in the period a year ago.
Japan's goods exports contracted for four consecutive months since May before rebounding in September after the Trump administration lowered U.S. tariffs to 15% from 25% on August 7.
The rising government spending supported a 2.2% increase in public demand, offset by a 1.8% decrease in private demand, driven by a 32.5% plunge in private residential investment.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 0.3% to 50,216.63, and the broader Topix declined 0.5% to 3,343.20.
The AI supply chain-driven semiconductor equipment makers led the decliners in Tokyo's trading on Monday.
Tokyo Electron increased 3% to ¥32,820.0, Advantest Corp. gained 1.3% to ¥19,780.0, and Disco Corp. added 0.9% to ¥47,710.0.
Softbank Group advanced 2.7% to ¥20,300.0, Sanrio Co. Ltd. plunged 7.9% to ¥5,354.0, Fast Retailing decreased 5.3% to ¥53,530.0, and Nidec declined 8.2% to ¥2,062.0.
China Stocks Extended 3-Day Losses Amid Cautious Market Sentiment
Li Chen
17 Nov, 2025
Hong Kong
Investors remained on the defensive at the start of the new week, amid weak global market sentiment.
The Hang Seng Index eased 0.8%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 index fell 0.7% as investors reviewed the latest economic data released last week.
Market sentiment was weak for the third session in a row after China's retail sales, industrial production, and jobless rate data confirmed the ongoing weakening economic growth outlook.
Despite the market's caution, China's GDP growth is set to hit the annual target rate of 5%, but the economic expansion is less likely to create enough new jobs for recent graduates.
Moreover, businesses are facing sharply lower profit margins amid intense competition and chaotic U.S. trade policy.
So far, companies have delivered mixed corporate earnings as mid- and small-sized corporations struggle with profit growth and falling margins in the export-driven sales.
The U.S. government is set to release the first batch of economic data on Thursday and resume data flow after the longest government shutdown, which ended last Wednesday.
September's nonfarm payrolls are likely to confirm rapidly deteriorating labor market conditions as businesses avoid hiring amid constantly changing U.S. trade policy and weakening consumer confidence.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.8% to 26,358.43, and the CSI 300 index dropped 0.7% to 4,595.12.
Alibaba Group Holding decreased 0.5% to $154.20, and the e-commerce company released its own revamped chatbot.
Pop Mart International Group decreased 0.3% to HK $217.0, and several local reports suggested that Sony Pictures plans to make a film featuring the company's popular Labubu dolls.