Japan Indexes Wavered Amid Shifting U.S.

Akira Ito
09 Jul, 2025
Tokyo

Japan's stock indexes wavered around the flatline amid heightened trade tensions with the U.S. 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 0.2%, and the broader Topix inched up 0.4%, and Japanese negotiators signaled their unwillingness to accept any level of additional U.S. tariffs. 

Japanese vehicles and parts are facing an additional import duty of 25%, and pharmaceutical products are likely to face higher duties as well. 

Investor sentiment has weakened over the last two weeks amid constantly changing U.S. trade policy and the lack of clarity about the firm deadline to conclude negotiations. 

The Trump administration launched a global tariff war on April 2, targeting key trading partners—China, Japan, Canada, and Mexico. 

The erratic trade policy of the Trump administration has wreaked havoc on the shipping and logistics companies, and manufacturing companies in Japan and Asia are facing sharp swings in orders from the U.S. 

Moreover, importers and retailers are halting new shipments amid a lack of clarity about the tariff levels at the port of arrivals in the U.S. 

 

Japan Indexes and Stocks 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.2% to 39,778.08, and the broader Topix advanced 0.4% to 2,826.41. 

Semiconductor equipment makers led decliners in Tokyo trading. 

Advantest Corp. edged up 0.2% to ¥10,980.0, Tokyo Electron decreased 0.3% to ¥27,175.0, and Fujikura Ltd. declined 1.3% to ¥7,714.0. 

Automakers extended losses as the U.S. stayed firm on its demand for additional duties on Japanese vehicles. 

Toyota Motor increased 1% to ¥2,487.50, Honda Motor gained 3.3% to ¥1,481.0, and Nissan Motor declined 3.3% to ¥305.50. 

Nissan Motor expanded its convertible bond offering to 200 billion yen, or $1.4 billion, from 150 billion yen.