Japan Market Daily | Kabutaro & Friends

On June 19, 2026, the Nikkei 225 advanced for a seventh consecutive session, closing up 196.57 yen at a fresh historic high of 71,250.06 yen. Following overnight gains on Wall Street where the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) hit a record high, the Tokyo market opened sharply higher, with the benchmark index surging by nearly 900 yen to approach the 72,000 mark during early trading. Although profit-taking subsequently dragged the index into negative territory during the afternoon session due to short-term overheating, late-day buying staged a resilient recovery into the close. Sentiment remained underpinned by the easing of Middle East tensions following the official signing of a ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. In the FX market, the USD/JPY cross accelerated its upward momentum into the lower 161 yen range, driven by lingering dollar demand amid widening yield differentials following the hawkish FOMC signals.