Japanese Stocks Rise Ahead of BOJ Decision
The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 0.5% on Thursday to surpass 36,200, reaching a one-month high as investors looked ahead to the Bank of Japan's latest monetary policy decision. The central bank is widely expected to keep its policy rate steady at 0.5%, as it assesses the possible effects of newly imposed US tariffs on Japan’s export-reliant economy.
Japanese shares also took cues from a positive lead on Wall Street , where investors brushed aside recession concerns after the US economy unexpectedly contracted in the first quarter. Adding to market optimism, hopes for progress in US-Japan trade talks gained traction after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled the potential for a deal earlier this week. Notable gains were seen among index heavyweights, including Disco Corp and Nintendo, both up 1.1%, Advantest with a 2.3% rise, Hitachi up 2.1%, and Keyence gaining 1.4%.
Source: Trading Economics
