Tokyo Stocks Trade Sideways, Japan Records Current Account Surplus in Fiscal 2024

Akira Ito
12 May, 2025
Tokyo

Japan's stock market indexes struggled to advance on Monday, and they hovered near six-week highs as investors awaited the release of financial results from leading companies this week. 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average and broader Topix indexes inched slightly higher as earnings season gathered momentum, and financial stocks led the most actively traded stocks in Tokyo. 

The trade negotiators sent cautiously optimistic signals at the conclusion of the first official talks on Sunday in Switzerland. 

Despite the two sides sending positive signals after the two days of intense talks led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Secretary of State Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the two sides remain far apart from an agreement.

The U.S. and China are set to release a joint statement later on Monday, and the statement is likely to focus broad framework for future trade discussions. 

 

Japan's Annual Current Account Surplus Widened In Fiscal 2024

Japan's current account surplus advanced to 3.678 trillion yen in April from 3.448 trillion yen a year ago, the Ministry of Finance reported Monday. 

The goods account surplus expanded  to 516.5 billion yen from 463.5 billion yen from a year ago, driven by a faster increase in exports compared to imports.

The primary income account increased to 3.92 trillion yen from 3.607 trillion yen, while the secondary income deficit expanded to 739.4 billion yen from 618.6 billion yen from a year ago, respectively. 

For the full fiscal year ending in March 2024, the current account surplus widened to 30.38 trillion yen from 26.17 trillion yen in the previous year, reflecting strong gains in primary income and continued gains in international trade. 

 

Japan Indexes and Stocks 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 0.001% to 37,518.10, and the broader Topix index inched down 0.02% to 2,732.99. 

The yen weakened to 146.08 against the U.S. dollar amid growing speculation that the Bank of Japan is likely to hold rates steady at the end of the next two-day meeting on June 17. 

Export-sensitive stocks and financial services providers led gainers in Tokyo trading. 

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. advanced 4.4% to ¥8,637.0, IHI Corp. gained 0.2% to ¥12,525.0, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries decreased 0.3% to ¥2,722.50. 

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group added 1.3% to ¥1,834.0. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group increased 0.6% to ¥3,448.0. Mizuho Financial Group edged up 0.6% to ¥3,691.0.