Nikkei average rises by over 1,200 yen on opening day, with semiconductor-related gains

On the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s first trading session of the year on January 5, the Nikkei Stock Average surged sharply, briefly climbing above the 51,600-ye mark — a gain of more than 1,200 yen from the previous trading day. It was the first time since December 12, 2025, that the index had exceeded 51,000 yen during trading hours.

The rally followed a strong performance in U.S. semiconductor stocks on January 2, which spurred active buying of similar shares in Japan. As a result, the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) also temporarily hit a new all-time high. Semiconductor-related firms such as Advantest and Tokyo Electron led the gains, contributing significantly to the Nikkei’s rise.

Meanwhile, the yen weakened into the upper 157 range against the U.S. dollar in morning trading, lifting export-oriented stocks like Toyota Motor Corp.. However, after a wave of early optimism, market momentum eased somewhat amid growing geopolitical concerns following the U.S. attack on Venezuela on January 3.