Japanese stocks open at record highs as expectations of snap poll rise
CNBC • • general
Key Points:
- Japanese stock indexes surged to record highs on Wednesday amid speculation that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call a snap election, potentially in February, marking her first electoral test.
- The Nikkei 225 climbed over 1% to surpass the 54,000 level for the first time, following a 3% gain on Tuesday, while the Topix index also reached new highs with a 0.6% increase.
- The Japanese yen weakened beyond 159 against the U.S. dollar, hitting its lowest point since July 2024 when authorities intervened to halt its decline.
- In contrast, U.S. markets fell overnight as investors reacted to recent proposals from President Donald Trump, with the S&P 500
