Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average Ends Higher as Tech Stocks Track Wall Street’s Gains (UPDATE 1)

Reuters

12:22 JST, December 25, 2025 (updated at 17:13 JST)

TOKYO, Dec 25 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average ended slightly higher on Thursday, tracking Wall Street’s gains overnight, with technology stocks leading the gains.

The Nikkei .N225 inched up 0.13% to 50,407.79 points and the broader Topix .TOPXrose 0.31% to 3,417.98.

“There were not many participants in the market today, but the indexes managed to be in positive territory,” said Shuutarou Yasuda, a market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory.

“But the indexes moved without clear directions.”

Chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron 8035.T rose 1.72% to provide the biggest boost to the Nikkei. Robot maker Fanuc 6954.T gained 2.03%.

Memory chip maker Kioxia Holdings 285A.T rose 1.79%. The gains came after its U.S. peer Micron Technology MU.O climbed 3.8% overnight to a closing record after the company issued a strong forecast last week.

Sony Group 6758.T gained 1.23% to become the biggest source of the Topix’ gains. Toyota Motor 7203.T rose 0.63%.

Chip-testing equipment maker Advantest 6857.T fell 1.81%, weighing on the Nikkei the most. Fiber optic cable maker Fujikura 5803.T lost 2.49%.

Uniqlo clothing store operator Fast Retailing 9983.T fell 0.71%.