Nikkei Archives - Taking Stock

August 13, 2025September 12, 2025

Global stocks indices flying high as new records broken – 12th August 2025

New records for global indices led by U.S. tech

In a sweeping rally that spanned continents and sectors, major global indices surged to fresh record highs yesterday, buoyed by cooling inflation data, renewed hopes of U.S. central bank rate cuts, and easing trade tensions.

U.S. inflation figures released 12th August 2025 for July came in at: 2.7% – helping to lift markets to new record highs!

U.S. Consumer Price Index — July 2025

Metric	Value
Monthly CPI (seasonally adjusted)	+0.2%
Annual CPI (headline)	+2.7%
Core CPI (excl. food & energy)	+0.3% monthly, +3.1% annual

Despite concerns over Trump’s sweeping tariffs, the U.S. July 2025 CPI came in slightly below expectations (forecast was 2.8% annual).

Economists noted that while tariffs are beginning to show up in certain categories, their broader inflationary impact remains modest — for now.

Global Indices Surged to Record Highs Amid Rate Cut Optimism and Tariff Relief

Tuesday, 12 August 2025 — Taking Stock

📈 S&P 500: Breaks Above 6,400 for First Time

Closing Level: 6,427.02
Gain: +1.1%
Catalyst: Softer-than-expected U.S. CPI data (+2.7% YoY) boosted bets on a September rate cut, with 94% of traders now expecting easing.
Sector Drivers: Large-cap tech stocks led the charge, with Microsoft, Meta, and Nvidia all contributing to the rally.

💻 Nasdaq Composite & Nasdaq 100: Tech Titans Lead the Way

Nasdaq Composite: Closed at a record 21,457.48 (+1.55%)
Nasdaq 100: Hit a new intraday high of 23,849.50, closing at 23,839.20 (+1.33%)
Highlights:
- Apple surged 4.2% after announcing a $600 billion U.S. investment plan.
- AI optimism continues to fuel gains across the Magnificent Seven stocks.

Nasdaq 100 chart 12th August 2025

🧠 Tech 100 (US Tech Index): Momentum Builds

Latest High: 23,849.50
Weekly Gain: Nearly +3.7%
Outlook: Traders eye a breakout above 24,000, with institutional buying accelerating. Analysts note a 112% surge in net long positions since late June.

🇯🇵 Nikkei 225: Japan Joins the Record Club

Closing Level: 42,718.17 (+2.2%)
Intraday High: 43,309.62
Drivers:
- Relief over U.S. tariff revisions and a 90-day pause on Chinese levies.
- Strong earnings from chipmakers like Kioxia and Micron.
- Speculation of expanded fiscal stimulus following Japan’s recent election results.

🧮 Market Sentiment Snapshot

Index	Record Level Reached	% Gain Yesterday	Key Driver
S&P 500	6,427.02	+1.1%	CPI data, rate cut bets
Nasdaq Comp.	21,457.48	+1.55%	AI optimism, Apple surge
Nasdaq 100	23,849.50	+1.33%	Tech earnings, institutional buying
Tech 100	23,849.50	+1.06%	Momentum, bullish sentiment
Nikkei 225	43,309.62	+2.2%	Tariff relief, chip rally

📊 Editorial Note: While the rally reflects strong investor confidence, analysts caution that several indices are approaching technical overbought levels.

The Nikkei’s RSI, for instance, has breached 75, often a precursor to short-term pullbacks.

January 24, 2025September 12, 2025

Japan increases interest rate chasing down rising inflation

The Bank of Japan recently raised its interest rate by 25 basis points to 0.5%, marking the highest level since 2008

This decision was influenced by sustained inflation and rising wages, signalling a cycle in the economy.

The move was expected by many economists and resulted in the Japanese yen strengthening against the dollar.

The Bank of Japan has indicated that more interest rate hikes may be on the horizon.

One year Nikkei chart

August 16, 2024September 12, 2025

Nikkei rises 3% to lead gains in Asia

Japanese stocks led gains across Asia on Friday 16th August 2024, poised for their best week in four years, with the Nikkei 225 climbing over 3% following a Wall Street rally.

The surge came as new economic data alleviated concerns of a U.S. recession.

In the U.S., retail sales saw a 1% increase in July, significantly exceeding the Dow Jones estimate of a 0.3% rise. Additionally, weekly jobless claims experienced a decline.

The rise in the Nikkei came after the biggest fall in history just days ago where it hit historic lows last seen in 1987 making it a remarkably fast recovery.

August 7, 2024September 12, 2025

U.S. stock markets rise after days of turmoil

U.S. shares gained on Tuesday 6th August 2024, signalling a tentative stabilisation in global markets after a period of significant declines.

The Nasdaq, known for its tech-centric portfolio, along with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500, all ended the day in more positive territory.

This ‘lift’ came after a period of muted activity in UK and European markets, with London’s FTSE 100 experiencing an initial surge before retreating.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 stock index recorded a substantial rise of 10.2%, or 3217 points, marking its largest single-day point increase following a steep drop the day before.

The recent turmoil in the stock market was triggered on Friday 2nd August 2024 by unsatisfactory U.S. job data for July 2024, which indicated an increase in unemployment, raising alarms over a potential recession.

Additionally, there has been growing apprehension that stocks of major technology firms, especially those with significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI), may have been excessively valued, leading to challenges for some of these companies.

August 5, 2024September 12, 2025

Bitcoin and Ether sink as $270 billion wiped off Crypto

The cryptocurrency market experienced a significant plunge on Sunday/Monday, 5th August 2024, losing approximately $270 billion in value within a 24-hours.

Both Bitcoin and Ether underwent substantial declines as investors moved away from high-risk assets. This downturn followed the Nasdaq’s worst three-week performance in two years and occurred as the Nikkei 225 reached a low not observed since the Black Monday crash of 1987.

Bitcoin chart – CoinMarketCap – 5th August 2024

Nikkei chart – one year

August 5, 2024September 12, 2025

Japan’s Nikkei suffers worst day since the Black Monday crash of 1987

Japanese stocks entered a bear market on Monday 5th August 2024 as the sell-off in Asia markets continued from the previous week. The Nikkei 225 fell over 12%

These benchmark indices have now declined more than 20% from their peak on 11th July 2024 – the index then touched 42000.

The Nikkei suffered over a 12% loss, closing at 31458, marking its worst performance since the ‘Black Monday’ of 1987. This drop of 4451 points is also the largest point loss in its history.

Year to date, the Nikkei has relinquished all its gains, shifting into a negative territory.

Nikkei one year chart

Nikkei one day chart – down 12.4% on the day a total of 4451 points

August 2, 2024September 12, 2025

Asia markets fall as Japan’s Nikkei drops 5% to an 8-month low

Japan’s benchmark indices plummeted on Friday 2nd August 2024, with most Asia-Pacific markets lower after a sell-off on Wall Street created recession worries.

The Nikkei 225 index plunged around 5.80% to close at 35909, its most significant fall since March 2020, dipping below the 36000 for the first time since January 2024.

The Nikkei recently record a high of 42000

Nikkei 225 one-year chart 2nd August 2024

Nikkei 225 one day chart 2nd August 2024

The broader Topix index experienced an even steeper decline of 6.14%, marking its worst performance in eight years, ending the day at 2537.

Daiwa Securities emerged as the biggest loser on the Nikkei index with an 18.85% erosion of its market cap.

Other prominent stocks also suffered losses; Softbank Group’s shares dropped over 8%, while trading giant Mitsui recorded a decline of more than 10%.

July 11, 2024September 12, 2025

Japan’s Nikkei blast through 42000 to reach all-time high

Japan’s Nikkei 225 surpassed the 42,000 threshold for the first time ever during a widespread increase in Asia-Pacific markets on Thursday 11th July 2024.

This surge followed a rally in U.S. Big Tech stocks, fueled by optimism over a potential Federal Reserve rate cut moving ever closer.

The Nikkei climbed almost 1% to close at 42,224 driven by gains in technology shares, while the comprehensive Topix index advanced to finish at 2,929.

Nikkei index

July 9, 2024September 12, 2025

Japan, India and U.S. stock markets continue to hit new record highs!

Asia-Pacific markets witnessed highs on Tuesday 8th July 2024, mirroring the gains on Wall Street where the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite ended at record highs. India’s Nifty 50 index also hit an all-time high of 24401.2

Investors are anticipating the forthcoming U.S. consumer price index release to discern the Federal Reserve’s direction on interest rates.

Pundits

Pundits have moved this year from four 0.25% rate reductions to one and now maybe to two with the first in September 2024. The Fed trickles decisions out from its fickle stance and each time the markets move in anticipation like a lap dog eagerly awaiting a pat. It almost doesn’t matter what the Fed does – markets want to go up. However, a rate reduction and good economic and earnings news will drive the markets even higher, for a while.

Fickle Fed

Markets are currently anticipating earnings reports. The Federal Reserve, having considered the latest economic reports, has influenced the markets with a mix of indifferent decisions. AI and technology have significantly shifted the stock market landscape, with the potential for further growth – provided that earnings sustain the pace of AI investments and expenses.

Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite achieved record highs again overnight, alongside Japan’s Nikkei and Topix reaching new highs too.

The Nikkei 225 climbed to settle at 41580.17 after hitting a new high of 41769.35. The Topix also gained, closing at 2895.55, having touched a peak of 2907.21.

Nikkei

Topix

S&P 500

Nasdaq Composite

Nifty 50

February 26, 2024September 12, 2025

Nikkei breaks new ground hitting new all-time high!

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index hit a new all-time high on Monday 26th February 2024. In contrast China markets slipped after a nine-day winning streak.

The Nikkei 225 ended 0.4% higher at 39233 comfortably above its previous closing record of 39,098.68. The index breached its 1989 all-time high of 38915 on Thursday 22nd February 2024.

Nikkei 225 hit new all-time high Monday 26th February 2024 – one year chart

October 4, 2023September 12, 2025

Nikkei 225 all time high of 1989

The Nikkei 225 index, is a stock market index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The Nikkei 225 reached its all-time high on 29 December 1989, during the peak of the Japanese asset price bubble, when it reached an intra-day high of 38,957.44, before closing at 38,915.87. This was after a decade-long bull run throughout the 1980s, when the index grew sixfold.

Since then, the index has never surpassed this level, and has experienced several periods of decline and stagnation. As of October 4, 2023, the index closed at 30,526.88, down by 2.28% from the previous day and 8389 points off its all-time high.