On the first trading day of 2026, Japan's Nikkei Stock Average surged nearly 3%, with chip-related sectors leading the way. Investors ignored the potential impact of US military action on Venezuela. As of 2:09 GMT on Monday, the Nikkei 225 index rose 2.78% to 51737.80 points, ending two consecutive trading days of decline at the end of the year. The more representative stock price index of the Eastern Stock Exchange climbed to a record high, rising 2% to 3478.27 points. The stock price of chip testing equipment manufacturer Edwin Test soared 6.37%, and the stock price of chip manufacturing equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electronics rose 6%. Driven by the 4% rise in the semiconductor index on the first trading day of the new year in US stocks last Friday, the Japanese chip-related sector rose at the same time. Kazuaki Shimada, chief strategist at Iwai Kyokuyo Securities, said, “Market risk appetite has rebounded, as if the uncertainty about America's influence on the Commission's actions has evaporated.”

On the first trading day of 2026, Japan's Nikkei Stock Average surged nearly 3%, with chip-related sectors leading the way. Investors ignored the potential impact of US military action on Venezuela. As of 2:09 GMT on Monday, the Nikkei 225 index rose 2.78% to 51737.80 points, ending two consecutive trading days of decline at the end of the year. The more representative stock price index of the Eastern Stock Exchange climbed to a record high, rising 2% to 3478.27 points. The stock price of chip testing equipment manufacturer Edwin Test soared 6.37%, and the stock price of chip manufacturing equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electronics rose 6%. Driven by the 4% rise in the semiconductor index on the first trading day of the new year in US stocks last Friday, the Japanese chip-related sector rose at the same time. Kazuaki Shimada, chief strategist at Iwai Kyokuyo Securities, said, “Market risk appetite has rebounded, as if the uncertainty about America's influence on the Commission's actions has evaporated.”