Market Update
Japanese Yen Rebounded to Seven-Month High Ahead of Rate Decisions
Akira Ito
09 Sep, 2026
Tokyo
Japan's indexes advanced on Wednesday, recovering from the losses in the previous session as technology stocks led the rebound.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 0.15, the broader TOPIX increased 0.3%, and the yen weakened to 153.36 against the U.S. dollar.
Rising fuel prices stoked fears of inflation and strengthened expectations for higher interest rates amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The Brent crude oil price increased 1.5% to $99.56 a barrel, supporting the case for a rate hike at the end of a policy meeting on September 18.
The yen rebounded to a seven-month high as the finance ministry and the Bank of Japan continued to intervene in the market as the embattled currency dropped to a four-decade low a month ago.
Investors also welcomed private-sector data showing Japanese manufacturers’ sentiment improved for a second consecutive month in September, supported by solid demand for semiconductors and data centers.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.1% to 65,274.24, and the broader TOPIX edged up 0.3% to 4,060.60.
Technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks led gainers in Tokyo trading on Wednesday.
SoftBank Group advanced 3.9% to ¥6,810.0, Tokyo Electron decreased 1.3% to ¥53,330.0, Advantest Corp. dropped 3% to ¥32,760.0, Fujikura Ltd. jumped 7.9% to ¥5,485.0, and Ibiden Corp. gained 3.5% to ¥21,550.0.
Japanese Yen Rebounded to Seven-Month High Ahead of Rate Decisions
Akira Ito
09 Sep, 2026
Tokyo
Japan's indexes advanced on Wednesday, recovering from the losses in the previous session as technology stocks led the rebound.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 0.15, the broader TOPIX increased 0.3%, and the yen weakened to 153.36 against the U.S. dollar.
Rising fuel prices stoked fears of inflation and strengthened expectations for higher interest rates amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The Brent crude oil price increased 1.5% to $99.56 a barrel, supporting the case for a rate hike at the end of a policy meeting on September 18.
The yen rebounded to a seven-month high as the finance ministry and the Bank of Japan continued to intervene in the market as the embattled currency dropped to a four-decade low a month ago.
Investors also welcomed private-sector data showing Japanese manufacturers’ sentiment improved for a second consecutive month in September, supported by solid demand for semiconductors and data centers.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.1% to 65,274.24, and the broader TOPIX edged up 0.3% to 4,060.60.
Technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks led gainers in Tokyo trading on Wednesday.
SoftBank Group advanced 3.9% to ¥6,810.0, Tokyo Electron decreased 1.3% to ¥53,330.0, Advantest Corp. dropped 3% to ¥32,760.0, Fujikura Ltd. jumped 7.9% to ¥5,485.0, and Ibiden Corp. gained 3.5% to ¥21,550.0.
Japanese Yen Rebounded to Seven-Month High A
Akira Ito
09 Sep, 2026
Tokyo
Japan's indexes advanced on Wednesday, recovering from the losses in the previous session as technology stocks led the rebound.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 0.15, the broader TOPIX increased 0.3%, and the yen weakened to 153.36 against the U.S. dollar.
Rising fuel prices stoked fears of inflation and strengthened expectations for higher interest rates amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The Brent crude oil price increased 1.5% to $99.56 a barrel, supporting the case for a rate hike at the end of a policy meeting on September 18.
The yen rebounded to a seven-month high as the finance ministry and the Bank of Japan continued to intervene in the market as the embattled currency dropped to a four-decade low a month ago.
Investors also welcomed private-sector data showing Japanese manufacturers’ sentiment improved for a second consecutive month in September, supported by solid demand for semiconductors and data centers.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.1% to 65,274.24, and the broader TOPIX edged up 0.3% to 4,060.60.
Technology and artificial intelligence-related stocks led gainers in Tokyo trading on Wednesday.
SoftBank Group advanced 3.9% to ¥6,810.0, Tokyo Electron decreased 1.3% to ¥53,330.0, Advantest Corp. dropped 3% to ¥32,760.0, Fujikura Ltd. jumped 7.9% to ¥5,485.0, and Ibiden Corp. gained 3.5% to ¥21,550.0.
China's Inflation Accelerated as Iran War Lifted Energy Prices to Six-Month Highs
Li Chen
09 Sep, 2026
Hong Kong
China's indexes lacked direction as investors reviewed the rising tensions in the Middle East and a slight pickup in inflation in August.
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.2%, the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index edged up 0.2%, and the Brent crude oil price jumped 1.5% to $99.56 a barrel.
The renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran lifted crude oil prices to six-month highs and strengthened the case for higher interest rates.
China's annual consumer price inflation accelerated to 0.8% in August from a six-month low of 0.5% in the previous month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Higher transportation expenses supported the overall inflation, and non-food prices rose at a steeper rate of 1.2% compared to 0.9%, led by a sharp rise in transport costs by 2.5% from 0.4% in the previous month, respectively.
Food prices decreased for the fifth month in August by 1.4% compared to 1.5% in the previous month, weighed down by a further drop in pork prices amid weak consumption and abundant supply.
Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, advanced annually 1.0% from 0.9% in the previous month.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4%, reversing a 0.1% decline in July.
Producer price inflation picked up to 3.8% in August, from a three-month low of 3.5%, driven mainly by higher energy costs amid ongoing Middle East tensions.
Despite the end of a long period of deflation, businesses are struggling to pass higher prices to consumers amid weak demand as economic growth slows.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.2% to 25,263.23, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index increased 0.2% to 4,570.54.
Hygon Information Technology decreased 0.5% to ¥235.74, Luxshare Precision Industry increased 3.4% to HK $61.85, Zhongji Innolight advanced 4% to $1,217.0, and Eoptolink Technology inched higher 0.2% to ¥417.51.
China's Inflation Accelerated as Iran War Lifted Energy Prices to 6-Month Highs
Li Chen
09 Sep, 2026
Hong Kong
China's indexes lacked direction as investors reviewed the rising tensions in the Middle East and a slight pickup in inflation in August.
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.2%, the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index edged up 0.2%, and the Brent crude oil price jumped 1.5% to $99.56 a barrel.
The renewed military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran lifted crude oil prices to six-month highs and strengthened the case for higher interest rates.
China's annual consumer price inflation accelerated to 0.8% in August from a six-month low of 0.5% in the previous month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Higher transportation expenses supported the overall inflation, and non-food prices rose at a steeper rate of 1.2% compared to 0.9%, led by a sharp rise in transport costs by 2.5% from 0.4% in the previous month, respectively.
Food prices decreased for the fifth month in August by 1.4% compared to 1.5% in the previous month, weighed down by a further drop in pork prices amid weak consumption and abundant supply.
Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, advanced annually 1.0% from 0.9% in the previous month.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4%, reversing a 0.1% decline in July.
Producer price inflation picked up to 3.8% in August, from a three-month low of 3.5%, driven mainly by higher energy costs amid ongoing Middle East tensions.
Despite the end of a long period of deflation, businesses are struggling to pass higher prices to consumers amid weak demand as economic growth slows.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.2% to 25,263.23, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index increased 0.2% to 4,570.54.
Hygon Information Technology decreased 0.5% to ¥235.74, Luxshare Precision Industry increased 3.4% to HK $61.85, Zhongji Innolight advanced 4% to $1,217.0, and Eoptolink Technology inched higher 0.2% to ¥417.51.
U.S. Indexes Struggled to Advance as Oil Traded at 6-Week High and Bond Yields Climbed Higher
Barry Adams
08 Sep, 2026
New York City
U.S. stocks traded down at the start of the holiday-shortened week amid resurgent crude oil prices and escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
The S&P 500 Index decreased 0.4%, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.3%, and the yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes inched higher to 4.80%.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices per barrel jumped 2.6% to $93.56, and Brent crude edged up 1.3% to $98.44.
The state-controlled Saudi Press Agency reported attacks halted operations at several energy facilities in the south of the Kingdom.
Iran-backed Houthi militants claimed responsibility for targeting the 400,000 barrel-per-day Jazan refinery and other facilities and launching attacks on several Saudi cities.
Despite the U.S. president's often repeated claims that Iran's economy has been "permanently ruined to the stone age," the Islamic Republic has continued to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the critical artery for global oil and energy products.
Crude oil prices rose to six-week highs amid prolonged disruptions of trade through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing the yield on a 10-year Treasury note to the highest since November 2023.
On the economic front, investors are awaiting the data on wholesale inflation on Thursday and consumer inflation on Friday, and the Federal Reserve is scheduled to hold its policy meeting next week.
The U.S. president threatened to halt all sales from Canada-based Bombardier as Canada imposed a retaliatory tariff on about $20 billion of U.S. goods effective Tuesday.
In Asia, markets in Japan fell 1.7%, benchmark indexes in China decreased 0.4%, and Hong Kong fell 0.35%.
European indexes retreated on Tuesday; benchmark indexes in Frankfurt decreased 0.4%, in Paris declined 0.2%, but in London rose 0.1%.
U.S. Movers
Novartis AG plunged 12.5% to $139.96 after the Swiss pharma company said its del-desiran drug for muscle wasting disorder failed in a late-stage trial.
The company's shares suffered its worst one-day decline after the pharmaceutical developer experienced its third drug trial setback in a week.
Wistron Corp. dropped 5.2% to NT $186.50 after the Nvidia supplier priced its global depository receipt to finance raw materials purchases.
On Monday, the company priced 250 million new common shares at about NT $186.24 each, representing about 7.29% of outstanding shares before the issuance.
The company priced its offering at a 5.5% discount to its Monday closing price of NT $197.