Japan Market Daily | Kabutaro & Friends

On April 17, 2026, the Nikkei 225 fell for the first time in four sessions, closing at 58,475 yen, down 1,042 yen from the previous day. Profit-taking dominated as investors locked in gains following the previous day's historic high, while concerns over stalled ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran weighed on sentiment. In currency markets, the yen hovered near the high 159 range against the dollar, fueling fears of import-driven inflation. BOJ Governor Ueda noted at the G20 meeting that the impact of Middle East tensions is "extremely difficult" to navigate, posing both downside risks to growth and upside risks to prices. Although the fourth tally of spring wage negotiations showed a high average increase of 5.08 percent, markets have shifted to a cautious stance, closely monitoring geopolitical developments and their broader economic fallout.