TOKYO - Tokyo stocks rebounded on October 21, with the Nikkei 225 closing 545.82 points higher at 64,621.24, a gain of 0.85%, as stronger U.S. equities, renewed buying in technology shares and encouraging Japanese export figures helped the market recover from two consecutive sessions of losses.
The broader TOPIX index advanced 34.52 points, or 0.86%, to 4,043.73, reflecting a recovery across much of the Tokyo market after the previous day's selloff.
The Nikkei opened at 64,885.95 and climbed rapidly to an intraday high of 65,404.63 during the first half-hour of trading, briefly gaining more than 1,300 points as investors responded to overnight gains on Wall Street. However, the early momentum faded as profit-taking emerged above the psychologically important 65,000 level, leaving the index substantially below its morning peak by the close.
The recovery followed a difficult October 20 session, when the Nikkei dropped 841.28 points and the TOPIX fell 1.43%, with technology companies particularly affected by concerns about rising bond yields and the outlook for growth stocks.
Investor sentiment improved after major U.S. shares advanced overnight, supported by stronger-than-expected corporate earnings. Positive developments in American technology stocks also encouraged renewed interest in Japanese semiconductor-related companies, although concerns about the scale and profitability of artificial intelligence investment continued to limit enthusiasm.
Japan's market remains volatile following its early October rally. The Nikkei climbed above 70,000 earlier in the month but subsequently retreated sharply as investors reassessed valuations, global interest rates and the economic consequences of higher energy prices.
Semiconductor testing equipment maker Advantest made the largest positive contribution to the Nikkei, adding approximately 123 points to the index. SoftBank Group contributed another 55 points, followed by electronic components manufacturer Ibiden, Tokyo Electron and TDK. The concentration of gains in technology-related companies highlighted the continued importance of artificial intelligence investment to Japanese equity valuations.
JX Advanced Metals rose 4.13%, recovering above 3,000 yen, while cable manufacturer Fujikura gained 3.70%, reflecting renewed buying across companies linked to semiconductor manufacturing and AI infrastructure.
Not all major companies participated in the recovery. Telecommunications operator KDDI was the largest negative contributor to the Nikkei, followed by Fast Retailing, Nitori Holdings, Kao and Olympus.
Market breadth was nevertheless positive, with 979 companies advancing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market, compared with 520 declines and 48 unchanged. Of the exchange's 33 industry groups, 24 finished higher. Nonferrous metals led the gains, followed by banking, insurance and securities companies, while retail, pulp and paper, and mining stocks were among the weakest performers.
Separate government figures released on October 21 showed that Japan's exports increased 16.7% in September from a year earlier, extending their growth to 13 consecutive months. The increase was supported by continuing demand for semiconductors and AI-related equipment, together with resilient automobile shipments to overseas markets.
Exports to the United States climbed 22.9%, while shipments to China increased 8.6%, indicating that demand from Japan's two major trading partners remained firm. However, the overall export increase was below economists' expectations of 20.1%, suggesting some moderation in the pace of expansion.
Imports rose 18.9% from a year earlier, producing a September trade deficit of 536.6 billion yen. Although the shortfall narrowed from approximately 1.1 trillion yen in August, it was substantially larger than the 181 billion yen deficit expected by economists.
The latest figures also highlighted the impact of the Middle East conflict on Japan's energy supply chains. Disruptions to shipping routes and higher crude oil prices have raised procurement costs for Japanese businesses, particularly in industries dependent on imported fuel and raw materials.
For the first six months of the fiscal year, Japan recorded a trade deficit of approximately 2.81 trillion yen, with exports rising 18.4% to a record 63.5 trillion yen and imports increasing 20.4% to 66.3 trillion yen. The figures illustrated the contrasting effects of strong overseas demand for Japanese products and the growing burden of energy imports.
Financial markets are also assessing the implications of Japan's changing inflation environment. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on October 21 that the country was moving away from inflation driven mainly by higher import costs toward a more sustainable pattern supported by rising wages.
The shift is important for the Bank of Japan, which raised its benchmark interest rate to 1.25% in September, its highest level in 31 years. Investors are now examining whether wage growth, domestic demand and corporate investment can sustain economic expansion while borrowing costs continue to rise.
The central bank's policy meeting later in October will provide updated economic growth and inflation forecasts, with particular attention focused on whether further monetary tightening may be necessary.
Government fiscal policy represents another significant consideration. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration is preparing measures to ease household living costs, including a proposed temporary reduction in the consumption tax on food. While such measures could support consumer spending, economists are also assessing whether fiscal stimulus might complicate the central bank's efforts to control inflation.
Currency movements remain another important influence on Japanese businesses. A relatively weak yen supports the overseas earnings of exporters when profits are converted into Japanese currency, but it also raises the domestic cost of imported energy, food and industrial materials.
International developments added another layer of uncertainty. Oil prices remained elevated, with Brent crude trading around $110 to $112 a barrel as investors assessed disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. Higher energy costs threaten to squeeze profit margins for Japanese manufacturers, airlines, transportation companies and other energy-intensive businesses.
Across Asia, equity markets delivered mixed results. South Korea's Kospi rose more than 3%, supported by renewed interest in technology companies, while shares in Taiwan also advanced. Chinese and Hong Kong markets declined, showing that the improvement in investor sentiment was uneven across the region.
Japan's October 21 recovery therefore reflected renewed interest in technology shares, improved U.S. market sentiment and continued strength in exports, but the retreat from the morning high showed that investors remain cautious about valuations and the outlook for economic growth.
The immediate focus for Tokyo investors will be whether the Nikkei can regain the 65,000 level, while the approaching Bank of Japan meeting, corporate earnings announcements, movements in the yen and developments in global energy markets are likely to determine the market's next direction.
