Nikkei 225 Holds at 65,018.95 as Tokyo Closes for Five-Day Break
Tokyo markets shut for Silver Week, freezing the Nikkei at 65,018.95. The index gained 1.38% Friday on a BOJ rate rise to 1.25%.
Key points
- Nikkei 225 closed at 65,018.95 on September 18, up 1.38% or 882.70 points.
- Tokyo markets are closed until September 24 for the first Silver Week holiday in 11 years.
- Bank of Japan raised rates to 1.25%, the highest level since 1995, in a 7-2 vote.
The Nikkei 225 stands at 65,018.95 after Friday’s 1.38% surge. This level remains the official benchmark as Tokyo closes for five days. The market reopens on Thursday, September 24.
The Bank of Japan raised rates to 1.25%, the highest since 1995. This move fueled a rally in semiconductor stocks. The yen weakened to 157 per dollar, supporting exporters during the session.
Market Closed For Five-Day Break
The Tokyo Stock Exchange is closed for Respect for the Aged Day. It remains shut through Wednesday, marking the first Silver Week in eleven years. No new closing price exists for Monday, September 21.
Investors now watch futures and currency markets for direction. These instruments continue trading and set the tone for the restart. The last cash close on September 18 remains the reference point.
BOJ Rate Rise Drives Rally
The central bank voted 7-2 to increase the policy rate by 25 basis points. Two board members dissented, signaling a less hawkish stance than feared. Governor Kazuo Ueda offered no promise of further immediate tightening.
Semiconductor shares led the index higher following a strong US tech session. Advantest, Tokyo Electron, and SoftBank Group were the biggest contributors. The rally was concentrated in high-priced Nikkei components rather than the broader market.
Index Divergence Reflects Weighting
The Nikkei 225 is price-weighted, giving outsized influence to high-share-price stocks. The TOPIX, weighted by market capitalization, slipped 0.07% to 4,091.14. This divergence shows the rally was narrow and sector-specific.
Bank shares fell as the split vote reduced expectations of aggressive hikes. Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho led the decline. The market opened at 64,681.55 and faded from its intraday high of 65,436.57.
