Global Markets | Japan's Nikkei closes at record high, logs biggest monthly gain in four

Japan's benchmark Nikkei share average closed at a record high on Friday, posting its biggest monthly gain in four months, as investors bet on corporate earnings strength.

The Nikkei reversed early losses to end up 0.16% at 58,850.27.

The index jumped 10.4% ‌in February - ⁠its ⁠strongest monthly performance since October 2025 - after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's landslide election win ​in February general elections spurred bets for big fiscal spending.


The broader Topix rose ​1.5% to 3,938.68 and also jumped 10.4% for the month, marking its biggest monthly gain since November 2020.

"The market became cautious about ​the fast-paced rally as the Nikkei neared ⁠the 60,000-mark, ‌but investors are bullish on the two-digit profit ​growth rate ​of companies in Japan in the coming fiscal year," ⁠said Hiroyasu Mori, head of research at Okachi Securities.

Fast Retailing, owner of the Uniqlo brand, rose 1.62%, making the biggest contribution to the Nikkei's gain.

Sony Group climbed 7.2%, providing the largest boost to the Topix, after the audio-equipment and game maker lifted its share buyback plan to up to 250 billion yen ($1.60 billion) from 150 billion yen.

Software stocks, which ‌had recently come under selling pressure on fears of AI-driven disruption, rose, with Nomura Research and NEC adding ​about 5% ​each.

Chip-testing equipment maker ⁠Advantest fell 4.53%, weighing on the Nikkei the most, after Nvidia slipped 5.5% overnight and dragged other U.S. chip stocks lower.

The U.S. Philadelphia ​SE Semiconductor index fell 3.2%.

Chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron lost 2.87% and technology investor SoftBank Group slipped 2.6%.

Of the more than 1,600 shares trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's prime market, 90% rose, 7% fell and 2% traded flat. ($1 = 155.8700 yen)