Japan Market Daily | Kabutaro & Friends

On April 29, 2026, Japanese markets were closed for the Showa Day holiday, but global markets remained tense ahead of the FOMC policy decision. Geopolitical risks lingered as the U.S. weighed reinstating certain sanctions on Iran despite the continued conditional opening of the Strait of Hormuz, keeping crude oil prices elevated near 105 dollars per barrel. In the real economy, the impact of high energy and material costs became more evident, with major food producers and utility companies announcing price hikes for the coming months. In currency markets, the dollar stayed strong against the yen in the 159 range due to expectations of prolonged high U.S. interest rates. Meanwhile, Chinese markets saw modest gains, led by energy stocks following robust Q1 earnings from state-owned enterprises, despite the broader global uncertainty.