Japan's Indexes Struggled to Rise Above Flatline, Exports and Imports Advanced In September

Akira Ito
22 Oct, 2025
Tokyo

Stocks in Tokyo recovered from the morning's losses on Thursday, and investors shifted their focus to a flood of earnings results next week. 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up a fraction, and the broader Topix advanced 0.7% amid receding optimism about additional fiscal stimulus. 

Japan's newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is likely to face hurdles in pushing through fiscal reforms, and investors are questioning the sustainability of the coalition between the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party. 

 

Japan's Exports and Imports Advanced In September 

Japan posted a trade deficit in September after the government's continued fuel subsidies and utility rebates supported higher imports. 

Exports increased 4.2% to 9.4 trillion yen, and imports advanced 3.3% to 9.6 trillion yen, resulting in a narrower trade deficit of 234.6 billion yen compared to 306.1 billion yen a year ago. 

Goods shipments to the U.S. fell for the sixth consecutive month amid weaker demand for chip-making equipment, automobiles, and electrical equipment. 

Despite a relief in U.S. tariffs, exports to the U.S. dropped 13.3%, driven by a 24% plunge in automobile shipments, prompting worries that the ongoing margin pressures could slow down domestic wage growth in the immediate future.  

Exports increased by 5.8% to China, 8% to ASEAN countries, 5.0% to the European Union, and nearly 19% to the Middle East.  

 

Japan Indexes and Stocks 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.01% to 49,325.57, and the broader Topix gained 0.7% to 3,271.74. 

Tokyo Electron increased 0.2% to ¥30,770.0, Advantest Corp. fell 2.5% to ¥16,960.0, and Disco Corp. was nearly unchanged at ¥52,540.0. 

Toyota Motor Corp. increased 3.6% to ¥3,114.0, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. advanced 4.2% to ¥1,618.0, and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. gained 3.6% to ¥378.80. 

IHI Corp. increased 6.5% to ¥3,025.0, Fujikura Ltd. inched up 0.5% to ¥16,760.0, and Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. gained 1.2% to ¥55,210.0, and SoftBank Group decreased 4.2% to ¥23,855.0.