S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico Market
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.06% to close at 59,285, while the broader Topix Index dropped 1.19% to 3,727 on Thursday, extending losses from the prior session as oil prices rallied on reports that the US military would brief President Trump on potential action against Iran, raising concerns that the conflict could escalate. Trump also reiterated that the US would maintain its naval blockade on Iran until a nuclear agreement is reached. Japan’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil imports added further pressure on the market. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve left its policy rate unchanged as widely expected, although four policymakers dissented from the decision. On the domestic front, data showed Japan’s industrial output unexpectedly declined in March, while retail sales came in stronger than anticipated. Significant losses were recorded among key index heavyweights, including Advantest (-5%), Fujikura (-4.9%), Mitsubishi UFJ (-2%), Mitsubishi Heavy (-3.8%), and Hitachi (-3.3%).
