On April 25, 2025, the Tokyo stock market experienced notable movements, with the Nikkei average rising significantly and trading volumes for various futures contracts reflecting active market participation. The Nikkei 225 index opened strong, buoyed by positive trends from the previous day’s U.S. markets, which saw all three major indices close higher.
The Nikkei average opened at 35,387 yen, up 348 yen, and continued to gain momentum, eventually peaking at 35,835 yen, a substantial increase of 796 yen by 13:08. However, profit-taking pressures emerged, leading to a slight pullback before the market closed at 35,705 yen, up 666 yen for the day. This upward trend was supported by the absence of specific mentions regarding currency issues in the recent U.S.-Japan finance minister meeting, which allowed the yen to weaken against the dollar, thereby benefiting export-related stocks.
In terms of trading volumes, the Nikkei 225 mini futures for the May 2025 contract saw Societe Generale Securities leading with 5,670 contracts traded during the day session. Other notable participants included ABN Clearing Securities with 4,698 contracts and Rakuten Securities with 2,460 contracts. The June 2025 contract also witnessed significant activity, with ABN Clearing Securities trading 277,816 contracts, followed by Societe Generale with 200,795 contracts.
Individual stocks showed varied performance, with Nidec Corporation (6594) leading the way with a 12.4% increase to 2,510.5 yen after announcing on April 24 that it expects a 19.3% increase in net profit for the fiscal year ending March 2026. This optimistic forecast was well-received by investors, particularly as it was driven by anticipated growth in demand for data center power generators.
Disco Corporation (6146) also saw gains, rising 4.3% to 28,730 yen, following reports that China may exclude certain semiconductor products imported from the U.S. from its retaliatory tariffs. This news sparked optimism among semiconductor-related stocks, contributing to Disco's upward momentum.
Nissan Motor Co. (7201) rose by 1.6% to 335 yen, despite announcing a maximum projected loss of 750 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2025. Analysts noted that the market had already priced in these losses, leading to a favorable buying sentiment.
Suntory Food International (2587) increased by 0.4% to 4,919 yen after revealing plans to raise prices on 234 items, including its flagship product, Suntory Natural Water, starting from shipments on October 1, 2025. This announcement indicated potential revenue improvements, attracting buyers.
ANYCOLOR (5032), which manages virtual YouTubers, temporarily surged by 4.7% to 3,790 yen, marking a year-to-date high. This rise followed a positive adjustment from a foreign securities firm, which increased its target stock price from 4,300 yen to 4,600 yen, reflecting confidence in the company's growth potential.
The overall market sentiment remained buoyant, with the Nikkei average closing the week up by 975 yen, or 2.8%. The anticipation of upcoming earnings reports from major companies, including Shin-Etsu Chemical (4063) and Astellas Pharma (4503), is expected to keep investor attention focused in the coming days. Additionally, economic indicators such as the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index for April are on the radar, with the preliminary figure showing a significant drop to 50.8, a level not seen in nearly three years. Analysts will be closely watching for any changes in consumer sentiment that could impact market dynamics.
This day’s trading activity illustrates a robust response to both domestic and international economic signals, with investors eagerly anticipating further developments in the U.S.-China trade relations and key earnings reports that could shape market trajectories in the near future.
