Japan Market Daily | Kabutaro & Friends

On May 14, 2026, the Nikkei 225 fell for the first time in three days, closing at 62,654 yen, down 618 yen. Although the index hit a fresh intraday record high in the morning session following a rally in U.S. tech stocks, profit-taking dominated the afternoon due to concerns over overbought levels. In the FX market, the dollar remained strong near the 158 yen level following a higher-than-expected U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI). In the energy sector, crude oil futures briefly dipped below 100 dollars per barrel after reports that Iran allowed some commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Asian markets remained cautious ahead of the summit between President Trump and President Xi in China, as investors balanced hopes for eased semiconductor restrictions against persistent tensions over Taiwan.