Japan Indexes Retained Upward Bias Ahead of Key Macroeconomic Data

Akira Ito
02 Oct, 2025
Tokyo

Japan's benchmark indexes diverged as investors await the release of key economic data this week.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.7%, and the broader Topix decreased 0.3% as investors awaited the outcome of the leadership race for the LDP. 

Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is considered a favorite among party members, but the leadership race is likely to head for a runoff.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged higher, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street amid AI optimism and expectations of additional rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. 

Investors overlooked the U.S. government's partial shutdown as politicians struggled to strike an agreement and finalize budgetary spending for the next two months. 

Japan's retail sales and industrial production fell short of market expectations, but sentiment among large businesses improved following the US-Japan trade agreement that averted the aggressive U.S. tariffs. 

Later in the week, investors are looking forward to the release of unemployment data and a construction industry update.

Market sentiment was under pressure in Tokyo as investors rebalanced portfolios at the start of the second half of the fiscal year. 

 

Japan Indexes and Stocks 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.7% to 44,875.28, and the broader Topix index decreased 0.3% to 3,084.34. 

The company confirmed that a ransomware attack crippled its operations, but there has been no leakage of customer or personal data.

Asahi Group Holdings rose 2.5% to ¥1,734.50, and the beverage company postponed the October release of 12 new products following a system attack because of a cyberattack.

Tokyo Electron increased 7.5% to ¥27,750.0, Advantest Corp. advanced 1.7% to ¥14,930.0, and Lasertec gained 2.7% to ¥20,360.0. 

Toyota Motor Corp. decreased 0.05% to ¥2,820.0, Honda Motor Corp. declined 0.5% to ¥1,504.0, and Nissan Motor Corp. dropped 2.5% to ¥347.70. 

Seven & I Holdings Co. Ltd. decreased 0.4% to ¥1,958.50, Fast Retailing Co. fell 0.9% to ¥44,890.0, and Takashimaya Co. Ltd. added 1.4% to ¥1,742.50.