logo
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average Slips as US Futures Fall, Investors Eye Israel-Iran Ceasefire

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average Slips as US Futures Fall, Investors Eye Israel-Iran Ceasefire

Yomiuri Shimbun6 hours ago

TOKYO, June 25 (Reuters) – Japan's Nikkei share average inched lower on Wednesday, weighed down by declines in U.S. stock futures, as investors awaited clarity on whether a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran would hold.
The Nikkei .N225 was down 0.1% at 38,750.47 by the midday break, after flitting between modest gains and losses.
The broader Topix .TOPX fell 0.34% to 2,771.93.
'The market had already factored in the gains of U.S. stocks last night subsequent to a ceasefire announcement,' said Naoki Fujiwara, senior fund manager at Shinkin Asset Management.
The Nikkei snapped a three-day losing streak to end higher on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire agreement late Monday.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

ASEAN is no longer a passive recipient of global investment capital
ASEAN is no longer a passive recipient of global investment capital

Nikkei Asia

time43 minutes ago

  • Nikkei Asia

ASEAN is no longer a passive recipient of global investment capital

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers his speech as he officiates the ASEAN Investments Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia April 8, 2025. © Reuters Dai Kadomae, CFA, CPA, is a Thailand-based strategic finance adviser and former CFO with 25+ years of cross-border M&A and capital market experience. Capital has been quietly flowing out of Southeast Asia. In 2024 alone, the region's five key emerging economies -- Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines (sometimes collectively referred to as ASEAN-5) -- recorded net financial account outflows exceeding $4 billion, marking a structural break from nearly a decade of steady inflows. Since 2017, these ASEAN-5 economies have experienced a persistent decline in portfolio investment, based on balance of payments data from central banks and International Monetary Fund reports. Meanwhile, their once-resilient current account surpluses have begun to erode in the wake of COVID-19, exposing them to growing liquidity stress -- amplified by the Trump administration's stop-start trade policies.

Tokyo stocks end higher on strong chip shares
Tokyo stocks end higher on strong chip shares

The Mainichi

timean hour ago

  • The Mainichi

Tokyo stocks end higher on strong chip shares

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended higher after directionless trading Wednesday, supported by semiconductor-related shares, while a firmer yen pressured some exporters. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 151.51 points, or 0.39 percent, from Tuesday at 38,942.07. The broader Topix index finished 0.89 point, or 0.03 percent, higher at 2,782.24. On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by electric appliance, chemical and metal product issues. The U.S. dollar briefly weakened to the upper 144 yen in Tokyo, as the yen was bought after a Bank of Japan policy board member said the central bank may further raise interest rates to counter the risk of elevated prices even if uncertainty over U.S. tariffs remains, dealers said. On the stock market, the Nikkei index mostly stayed afloat as heavyweight chip-linked shares attracted buying following the rise of a key U.S. semiconductor index overnight on hopes for further growth in the artificial intelligence field. However, the benchmark entered negative territory at some points as the firmer yen prompted investors to unload some export-oriented shares. A stronger yen reduces overseas profits of exporters when repatriated. Investors were reluctant to buy shares actively as the market had already digested the news Tuesday that Israel and Iran had agreed to a cease-fire, brokers said. "Though excessive caution over the Middle East situation receded, it remains as a risk factor as uncertainty persists over how the countries involved will move next," said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.

Trump says China can buy Iranian oil, but urges it to purchase US crude
Trump says China can buy Iranian oil, but urges it to purchase US crude

Japan Today

time3 hours ago

  • Japan Today

Trump says China can buy Iranian oil, but urges it to purchase US crude

An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. China Daily via REUTERS/File Photo By Timothy Gardner U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that China can continue to purchase Iranian oil after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, a move that the White House clarified did not indicate a relaxation of U.S. sanctions. "China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran. Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the U.S., also," Trump said in a post on Truth Social, just days after he ordered U.S. bombings of three Iranian nuclear sites. Trump was drawing attention to no attempts by Iran so far to close the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers, as a closure would have been hard for China, the world's top importer of Iranian oil, a senior White House official told Reuters. "The president continues to call on China and all countries to import our state-of-the-art oil rather than import Iranian oil in violation of U.S. sanctions," the official said. After the ceasefire announcement, Trump's comments on China were another bearish signal for oil prices, which fell nearly 6% on Tuesday. Any relaxation of sanctions enforcement on Iran would mark a U.S. policy shift after Trump said in February he was re-imposing maximum pressure on Iran, aiming to drive its oil exports to zero, over its nuclear program and funding of militants across the Middle East. Trump imposed waves of Iran-related sanctions on several of China's independent "teapot" refineries and port terminal operators for purchases of Iranian oil. "President Trump's greenlight for China to keep buying Iranian oil reflects a return to lax enforcement standards," said Scott Modell, a former CIA officer, now CEO of Rapidan Energy Group. In addition to not enforcing sanctions, Trump could suspend or waive sanctions imposed by executive order or under authorities a president is granted in laws passed by Congress. Trump will likely not waive sanctions ahead of coming rounds of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, Modell said. The measures provide leverage given Tehran's demand that any deal includes lifting them permanently. Jeremy Paner, a partner at law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed, said if Trump chooses to suspend Iran oil-related sanctions, it would require lots of work between agencies. The U.S. Treasury would need to issue licenses, and the State Department would have to issue waivers, which require Congressional notification. Oil traders and analysts in Asia said they did not expect Trump's comments to have a near-term impact on Chinese purchases of oil from either Iran or the U.S. Iranian oil accounts for roughly 13.6% of China's oil purchases this year, with the discounted barrels providing a lifeline to margin-squeezed independent refineries. U.S. oil accounts for just 2% of China's imports, and Beijing's 10% tariffs on U.S. oil deter further purchases. PRESSURE ON CHINA China has long opposed what it has called Washington's "abuse of illegal unilateral sanctions." China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Trump's post. Larger purchases of Iranian oil by China and other consumers could upset U.S. ally Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter. The impact of U.S. sanctions on Iran's exports, however, has been limited since Trump's first administration when he cracked down harder on Tehran. Trump has "flashed the Glock" this year with sanctions on Chinese trading companies and terminals, Modell said, referring to revealing a gun. But the results have been far more "minimum pressure" than maximum, Modell added. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters that Trump had signaled what he wanted to happen and that his administration is focused on delivering that. She would not say what the process would entail. "But clearly we are focused on making sure that (the) guiding hand of President Trump prevails and moves this government forward, so we will have to wait and see when it comes to what that ends up looking like," Bruce said. © Thomson Reuters 2025.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store