Japan's Indexes Rebounded Ahead of Wage Data, Gold Reached New Record High

Akira Ito
02 Sep, 2025
Tokyo

Stock market indexes in Tokyo advanced after falling in two previous consecutive sessions. 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average inched higher 0.3%, and the Topix gained 0.6%, as investors looked forward to the release of wage data later in the week. 

Large corporations have increased wages for the second year in a row at a record high of 5%, putting additional pressure on smaller companies to match wage increases. 

However, most small- and mid-sized corporations have kept wage gains closer to the 2% to 3% range, amid a weak outlook for profit growth. 

The Japanese yen's weakness has been a double-edged sword; while the weaker yen helps exports, it also drives higher costs of imports, including energy and raw material prices.

Investors worried that the latest U.S. court ruling could add another layer of uncertainty for Japan's direct exports and indirect exports through the ASEAN region, China, and Mexico to the U.S.

In commodities trading, gold and crude oil advanced as investors confronted ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and future rate paths in the U.S.

Crude oil jumped 27 cents amid growing worries that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict could further disrupt oil supplies. 

Gold jumped 0.5% to $3,495.26 as investors speculate that the U.S. Federal Reserve is more likely to cut rates at the end of a two-day meeting on September 17. 

 

Japan Indexes and Stocks 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.3% to 42,300.50, and Topix advanced 0.6% to 3,082.41.

Toyota Motor Corp. rose 0.3% to ¥2,866.50, Honda Motor Corp. advanced 0.06% to ¥1,670.0, and Nissan Motor inched lower 0.5% to ¥333.70. 

Seven & I Holdings Co. Ltd. advanced 0.4% to ¥1,937.0, Fast Retailing gained 0.5% to ¥46,420.0, Takashimaya Co. Ltd. jumped 3% to ¥1,372.0, and Aeon Co. Ltd. decreased 1% to ¥1,772.0. 

Nippon Yusen KK rose 2.9% to ¥5,510.0, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines added 1.8% to ¥4,814.0, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. increased 2.3% to ¥2,324.50.