Japan's Household Spending Decline Extended to March, JTX Advanced Metals Plunged After Bond Issuance Plan

Akira Ito
12 May, 2026
Tokyo

Japan's indexes hovered near record highs as technology stocks extended gains amid sustained optimism surrounding AI-related demand. 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.5%, the broader Topix gained 0.8%, and the yen edged up to 157.23 against the U.S. dollar. 

The price of Brent crude oil rose 2.4% to $104.86 a barrel after the U.S. and Iran exchanged peace proposals, but the peace talks showed little progress. 

Investors are increasingly factoring that the Strait of Hormuz is likely to remain closed for the foreseeable future, as the U.S. and Iran showed little urgency to resolve their differences. 

On the economic front, Japan's household spending declined for the fourth consecutive month in March amid the rising cost of living. 

Household spending decreased 2.9% from a year ago in March, sharper than the 1.8% decline in the prior month amid persistent inflationary pressure. 

Spending on food declined 2.9% and utilities fell 3.2%, but expenditure on housing rose 15.3% and furniture and household spending increased 5.5%. 

 

Japan Indexes and Stocks 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 0.5% to 62,710.41, and the broader Topix Index advanced 0.8% to 3,872.73. 

JX Advanced Metals plunged 15.2% to ¥4,842.0 after the sputtering targets maker announced its plan to issue new convertible bonds worth 250 billion yen, or $1.6 billion, to fund a stock buyback program. 

The company's fiscal year revenue ending in March rose 23.7% to ¥884.6 billion from ¥714.9 billion, net income increased to ¥104.6 billion from ¥68.3 billion, and diluted earnings per share advanced to ¥112.71 per share from ¥73.53 a year ago.