Japan Market Daily
Daily notes on the Tokyo stock market: how the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX moved and the news behind it, written by Kabutaro, a Japanese individual investor since 2007.
Latest post · Fri, September 18, 2026
The Nikkei 225 rallied for a third straight session on September 18, closing up 882.70 yen (+1.52%) at 65,018.95, reclaiming the 65,000 level for the first time in about a week. The TOPIX, by contrast, dipped slightly for the first time in three sessions, down 3.05 points to 4,091.14. At its policy meeting, the Bank of Japan raised its policy rate by 0.25 point to around 1.25%, in a 7-2 vote that matched market expectations, prompting a wave of buying in the afternoon session. By contribution, Advantest added about 436 yen, Tokyo Electron about 215 yen, Kioxia Holdings about 110 yen, Ibiden about 72 yen, and SoftBank Group about 55 yen. Semiconductor, semiconductor-equipment and AI-related shares led the rally, while KDDI, Terumo and Itochu declined. The dollar moved toward yen weakness after the BOJ's rate hike announcement, trading around 157.10 yen.
Japan Stock of the Day
The Japanese stock that drew the most attention online each day, with the earnings, news and price moves behind it. By Kabutaro, a Japanese individual investor since 2007.
Latest post · Fri, September 18, 2026
On September 18, 2026, the most talked-about Japanese stock online was Kioxia Holdings <285A>.
Background: The Bank of Japan raised its policy interest rate by 0.25 points to around 1.25% at its monetary policy meeting that day. The Nikkei Stock Average closed up 882.70 yen at 65,018.95 yen, having risen more than 1,300 yen at one point during the session. Amid heavy buying of semiconductor-related shares, Kioxia surged 4,690 yen (+9.40%) to close at 54,570 yen, becoming one of the top contributors to the Nikkei's gain. Trading volume reached 34.47 million shares and turnover hit 1.8189 trillion yen, standing out as the largest turnover on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market that day.
Background: The Bank of Japan raised its policy interest rate by 0.25 points to around 1.25% at its monetary policy meeting that day. The Nikkei Stock Average closed up 882.70 yen at 65,018.95 yen, having risen more than 1,300 yen at one point during the session. Amid heavy buying of semiconductor-related shares, Kioxia surged 4,690 yen (+9.40%) to close at 54,570 yen, becoming one of the top contributors to the Nikkei's gain. Trading volume reached 34.47 million shares and turnover hit 1.8189 trillion yen, standing out as the largest turnover on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market that day.
US Stock of the Day
The US stock that drew the most attention online each day, with the earnings, news and price moves behind it, from the point of view of a Japanese individual investor.
Latest post · Fri, September 18, 2026
On September 18, 2026, the most talked-about US stock online is Netflix<NFLX>.
Background: Wells Fargo downgraded the stock from Equal Weight to Underweight and cut its price target to $57 from $80. The analyst cited worrying engagement trends, projecting that hours watched across the company's top 100 original titles will fall 21% year-over-year in the second half of 2026. Netflix fell nearly 3% in premarket trading on September 18 and is on track for a fourth consecutive session of losses. The stock is down roughly 30% year to date and about 40% over the past 12 months, and the $57 target implies a further 25% downside from current levels. Across Wall Street, however, 35 of 51 analysts rate the shares Strong Buy or Buy and 16 rate them Hold, with no Sell ratings, and the average 12-month price target stands at $93.88. Netflix has become the most-discussed ticker on Stocktwits.
Background: Wells Fargo downgraded the stock from Equal Weight to Underweight and cut its price target to $57 from $80. The analyst cited worrying engagement trends, projecting that hours watched across the company's top 100 original titles will fall 21% year-over-year in the second half of 2026. Netflix fell nearly 3% in premarket trading on September 18 and is on track for a fourth consecutive session of losses. The stock is down roughly 30% year to date and about 40% over the past 12 months, and the $57 target implies a further 25% downside from current levels. Across Wall Street, however, 35 of 51 analysts rate the shares Strong Buy or Buy and 16 rate them Hold, with no Sell ratings, and the average 12-month price target stands at $93.88. Netflix has become the most-discussed ticker on Stocktwits.
China Stock of the Day
The Chinese stock (A-shares and Hong Kong) that drew the most attention online each day, with the news and price moves behind it, from the point of view of a Japanese individual investor.
Latest post · Fri, September 18, 2026
Shenyang Blower Works Group (Shengu Group) <601091>, a Shenyang state-owned maker of large equipment including centrifugal and reciprocating compressors and nuclear reactor main pumps, was the Chinese stock most talked about online on September 18, 2026.
Background: The company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange main board on September 17 at an IPO price of 4.39 yuan and closed its debut day up 373.8% at 20.80 yuan. On its second trading day, September 18, it opened 28% below the prior close, then rebounded sharply, at one point rising more than 297% intraday, prompting the Shanghai exchange to suspend trading accounts flagged for abnormal activity. It closed at 57.77 yuan (+177.74%), with a market capitalization of about 180 billion yuan. In its own risk announcement, the company disclosed a static P/E ratio of 242.96x (versus an industry average of 41.74x) and a price-to-book ratio of 26.06x (versus 3.50x), warning of the risk of a sharp pullback after the rapid short-term rally.
Background: The company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange main board on September 17 at an IPO price of 4.39 yuan and closed its debut day up 373.8% at 20.80 yuan. On its second trading day, September 18, it opened 28% below the prior close, then rebounded sharply, at one point rising more than 297% intraday, prompting the Shanghai exchange to suspend trading accounts flagged for abnormal activity. It closed at 57.77 yuan (+177.74%), with a market capitalization of about 180 billion yuan. In its own risk announcement, the company disclosed a static P/E ratio of 242.96x (versus an industry average of 41.74x) and a price-to-book ratio of 26.06x (versus 3.50x), warning of the risk of a sharp pullback after the rapid short-term rally.
Japanese Stock Dividend Ranking
Japanese stocks that are cheap (PBR 1 or less, PER 10 or less), profitable (ROE 5% or more), debt-free (net cash) and yield 3% or more, ranked by dividend yield and rebuilt every day at 17:00 JST.