Japanese Shares Fall As Inflation Rises
The Nikkei 225 fell 0.22% to close at 38,403 on Friday, while the broader Topix index dropped 0.75% to 2,771, extending losses from the previous session as accelerating inflation raised concerns about tighter monetary policy.
Japan’s core inflation rate rose for a third straight month in May, hitting 3.7%—the highest level since January 2023—strengthening expectations that the Bank of Japan could continue its policy normalization efforts. Geopolitical tensions also weighed on sentiment, amid reports that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a possible strike on Iran, adding to market uncertainty.
Notable decliners included Sanrio (-1.4%), Toyota Motor (-0.9%), Mitsubishi Corp (-1.4%), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (-2.6%), and Nintendo (-4.1%). Despite Friday's declines, both benchmark indexes ended the week in positive territory, with the Nikkei up 1.5% and the Topix up 0.54%. (alg)
Source: Trading Economics