Nikkei Ends 2021 with highest closing in 32 years

Jiji Press

16:39 JST, December 30, 2021

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Nikkei stock average hit its highest year-end closing in 32 years on Thursday, although the benchmark index wrapped up 2021 trading with a moderate drop.

The Nikkei average of 225 selected issues listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 115.17 points, or 0.40%, to end at 28,791.71, after losing 162.28 points on Wednesday.

The TOPIX index of all TSE first-section issues finished 6.66 points, or 0.33%, lower at 1,992.33, following a 6.03-point drop the previous day.

In 2021, the Nikkei gained a net 1,347.54 points, or 4.91%, and the TOPIX a net 187.65 points, or 10.40%.

This year, the Nikkei was confined in relatively a narrow range mostly between 27,000 and 30,000, with its topside capped chiefly by the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The market yardstick hit a low of 27,013.25 on Aug. 20, shortly before the Japanese government expanded the scope of its third COVID-19 state of emergency to cover 21 of the country’s 47 prefectures in total to cope with an explosive increase in delta coronavirus variant cases.

Meanwhile, the index notched a high of 30,670.10 on Sept. 14, as investors cheered the news that Yoshihide Suga was resigning as prime minister.