FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Slip on Profit-Taking

The Nikkei 225 Index slipped 0.2% to below 70,600 on Wednesday, halting a two-day winning streak as investors took profits after the benchmark climbed to a three‑month high. Even so, global equities remained underpinned by expectations that corporations can weather higher interest rates and elevated energy costs, with both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite setting new record highs overnight.

Oil prices also rebounded, as persistent risks to energy supply from the Middle East outweighed signs of improving output from the region. In corporate news, SpaceX was reportedly seeking to raise $40 billion to purchase Nvidia chips, reinforcing a bullish outlook for the technology sector.

Among individual names, Fujikura (up 1.7%), SoftBank Group (up 1.6%), and Furukawa Electric (up 4.1%) posted notable gains, while Kioxia Holdings (down 3.4%), Advantest (down 1.2%), and Disco Corp (down 4.8%) retreated.