FX.co ★ Japanese Shares Struggle on Mideast Uncertainty

The Nikkei 225 Index inched up 0.1% to move above 59,400 on Wednesday, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.8% to 3,740, as Japanese stocks struggled for clear direction following the collapse of plans for a second round of US-Iran peace talks. The US also kept its blockade on Iranian vessels in place, even as President Donald Trump extended the current ceasefire with Tehran.

On the domestic front, Japan’s exports rose for a seventh straight month, supported by solid demand from China and ASEAN economies. However, the trade surplus totaled 667 billion yen, falling short of market expectations of 1.1 trillion yen.

In equity moves, Kioxia Holdings (2.6%), SoftBank Group (3.8%), and Advantest (3.1%) led the gainers, while Fujikura (-2.1%), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (-3.3%), and IHI Corp (-4.8%) posted notable declines.