Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average Rises as Uniqlo Owner Jumps on Earnings, Automakers Gain (UPDATE 1)　

Reuters

12:39 JST, January 9, 2026 (updated at 16:20 JST)

TOKYO, Jan 9 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average ended higher on Friday, driven by a surge in mega-cap Uniqlo store operator Fast Retailing on strong earnings.

Automakers also outperformed as a weakening yen bolstered the value of offshore revenue, as well as on relief that China would not ban exports of so-called dual-use items – with both civilian and defense applications – to non-military Japanese firms.

The Nikkei .N225 climbed 1.6% to close at 51,939.89.

Heavily weighted Fast Retailing’s 9983.T 10.7% rally single-handedly contributed 592 points to the Nikkei’s total 823-point advance.

The broader Topix .TOPX rose 0.9% to 3,514.11.

For the week, the Nikkei tacked on 3.2%, and the Topix gained 3.1%. Japanese markets will be closed on Monday for a national holiday.

Earnings were the main driver of the Japanese market, even with the crucial U.S. monthly non-farm payrolls report due later in the global day, which could reverberate across all geographies and asset classes.

“What the U.S. jobs data says about the outlook for monetary policy will definitely be a focus for investors,” said Wataru Akiyama, an equities strategist at Nomura Securities.

Japan’s earnings season doesn’t pick up until later this month, but Yaskawa Electric’s 6506.T results due later on Friday will be watched closely as the factory robot maker is a bellwether for the domestic manufacturing sector, Akiyama said.

Earnings this week have mainly been from retailers, and disappointing results from Aeon 8267.T, despite record sales and operating profit, saw the stock slump 7.7% to be the Nikkei’s worst performer.

Mazda 7261.T, the Japanese automaker that depends heavily on U.S. sales, jumped 4.3%. Toyota 7203.T climbed 2.9%, Honda 7267.T advanced 3.1%, and Nissan 7201.T added 2.5%.

Of the Nikkei’s 225 components, 169 gained, 54 fell and two ended flat.