FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Track Wall Street Higher

The Nikkei 225 Index surged 3.3% to climb above 66,000, while the broader Topix Index added 1.2% to reach 4,009 on Wednesday, extending the previous session’s gains. Japanese equities tracked Wall Street higher after both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 ended at new record highs.

Global risk appetite also improved following a sharp decline in oil prices, driven by growing optimism over an interim deal between the US and Iran that could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. On the domestic front, data showed real wages rose for a sixth straight month in June, strengthening expectations for further interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan.

Technology shares led the advance, with Kioxia Holdings jumping 7.4%, Ibiden Co gaining 5.1%, Advantest up 5.7%, Lasertec rising 4.2%, and SoftBank Group rallying 7.8%. Other heavyweight names also registered solid gains, including JX Advanced Metals (up 3.8%), Mizuho Financial (1.7%), and Sony Group (2.7%).