The appreciation of the Japanese yen has impacted export stocks, and the Nikkei index has fallen for the second consecutive day

Asia Pacific Financial News——On Thursday, May 15th, the Japanese stock market continued to be under pressure, with major indices falling for the second consecutive trading day, reflecting a more cautious attitude towards valuation and exchange rate fluctuations in the market after experiencing a strong rebound in the early stages. The sustained appreciation of the Japanese yen has become a key factor affecting the performance of export-oriented enterprises, dragging down the overall market weakness.

As of the close, the Nikkei 225 index fell 1% to close at 37755.51 points; The broader TOPIX index also fell 0.9%. This is the second consecutive day that two major indices have recorded a decline, indicating a certain degree of cooling in market sentiment.

According to trading data, among the constituent stocks of the Nikkei 225 Index, a total of 147 stocks fell, 76 rose, and 2 remained flat, indicating a wide range of downturns.

The Japanese yen has strengthened against the US dollar for three consecutive days, exacerbating market concerns about the profitability of export companies. Exchange rate fluctuations directly affect the value of Japanese companies' overseas income converted into local currency, with traditional export industries such as automobile manufacturers bearing the brunt.

The performance of the Tokyo stock market was also affected by news of geopolitical and trade negotiations. Market reports suggest that the United States and South Korea held talks on exchange rates last week, sparking speculation that Washington may be trying to weaken the US dollar. This expectation has also led to the simultaneous appreciation of the Korean won and Japanese yen.

Maki Sawada, a strategic analyst at Nomura Securities, pointed out that "the Nikkei index has risen rapidly since early April, and its valuation is currently at a high level. Investors are cautious about whether there are signs of overheating in the market

From the perspective of industry performance,Transportation equipment sectorLeading the decline, with an overall drop of 2.8%. Among them,Toyota Motor CorporationClosing down 3.4%,HondagiveNissanThe decline has reached 3.9% for both. Electronic exporters are also under pressure,SonyA decrease of 2.8%,NintendoDecreased by 2.2%.

Large heavyweight stock * * Fast Retailing (parent company of Uniqlo) * * fell 1.5%, significantly dragging down the Nikkei Index.

However, not all sectors have shown weakness. Benefiting from the easing of trade relations between China and the United States, the market's expectations for the improvement of global shipping demand have increased,Shipping sector rises 2.4% against the trendBecoming one of the strongest performing industry sectors on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Overall, although some industries have shown resilience, exchange rate fluctuations, high valuations, and market concerns about policy uncertainty have put short-term pressure on the Japanese stock market. Investors are closely monitoring the future direction of global trade and monetary policy to assess the depth and sustainability of market adjustments.