The Nikkei index closed up 256 points or 0.4%, SoftBank rose nearly 5%, and the three major bank stocks increased

AASTOCKS
2026.04.15 07:16

Japanese stocks continue to rise, with the market anticipating an end to the US-Iran conflict. The US stock market rose the night before (14th), driven by foreign investment in stock index futures and heavyweight technology stocks. The Nikkei average index opened up 387 points and then expanded its gains, rising by 708 points to reach 58,585 points, closing up 256 points or 0.4% at 58,134 points.

In the artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors, SoftBank (9984.JP) rose 4.8%, Advantest (6857.JP) rose 2.2%, while Tokyo Electron (8035.JP) and Discus (6146.JP) fell 0.5% and 1.5%, respectively. Lasertec (6920.JP) fell 3.3%, and Kioxia (285A.JP) retraced 7.4%. In the wire sector, Furukawa Electric (5801.JP) and Sumitomo Electric (5802.JP) fell 5.6% and 5.2%, while Fujikura (5803.JP) fell 4.2%.

In the heavy industry sector, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.JP), Kawasaki Heavy Industries (7012.JP), and IHI (7013.JP) fell between 3.5% and 4.3%. In the metals sector, JX Metals (5016.JP) and Mitsui Mining & Smelting (5706.JP) fell 5.1% and 6.7%, while Sumitomo Metal Mining (5713.JP) rose 2.4%. In the rare earth sector, Mitsui Ocean Development (6269.JP) fell 4.6%. Oil stock Inpex (1605.JP) fell 3.7%. In the trading company sector, Mitsui & Co. (8031.JP) and Mitsubishi Corporation (8058.JP) fell 3.8% and 3.9%.

In the banking sector, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.JP), Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.JP), and Mizuho Financial Group (8411.JP) rose between 2% and 2.4%.

According to reports, beverage and health product company Suntory (2587.JP) will acquire the over-the-counter drug division of pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo (4568.JP) for approximately 200 billion yen (about 1.2 billion USD). Suntory rose 1.2%, and Daiichi Sankyo rose 3.6%. In other stocks, Fast Retailing (9983.JP) fell 0.4%, Tokyo Electric Power (9501.JP) fell 2.7%, while Nissan (7201.JP) and Ryohin Keikaku (7453.JP) rose 2.9% and 3.5%, respectively. Hitachi (6501.JP) rose 5.3%. Rakuten Group (4755.JP) rose 2.2%.

The USD/JPY exchange rate is reported at 159.01

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