The Nikkei 225 rose 0.5% to around 54,070, while the broader Topix Index gained 0.7% to 3,678 on Friday, reversing earlier losses as investors focused on this weekend’s national election. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the snap vote to secure backing for increased spending and potential tax cuts, with her ruling coalition widely expected to win decisively. Markets also navigated heightened volatility, as tech stocks, precious metals, and cryptocurrencies sold off earlier in the Asian session before stabilizing. Japanese tech shares led the recovery, with gains from SoftBank Group (1.9%), Advantest (0.8%), Disco Corp (2.5%), Fujikura (3.2%), and Lasertec (4.3%). Both benchmark indexes are positioned to finish the week higher.
