The Nikkei 225 Index surged 1.4% to above 60,500 on Monday, setting new all-time highs as investors largely brushed off diplomatic setbacks between the US and Iran that pushed oil prices higher. Market sentiment remained supported despite elevated geopolitical tensions, while attention also turned to this week’s Bank of Japan policy meeting, where rates are widely expected to stay unchanged as policymakers assess the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict.
Technology stocks led the rally, with strong gains in Kioxia Holdings (3.5%), SoftBank Group (1.4%), Advantest (2.4%), Fujikura (4.3%), and Disco Corp (4.3%). In corporate news, Fanuc jumped more than 15% after reporting strong earnings driven by robust demand in its factory automation and robotics divisions, particularly across China and the Americas. In contrast, Nomura Holdings dropped over 5% after missing fourth-quarter profit estimates due to writedowns and losses in Europe.
