Published on 02/06/2026 at 01:52 am EST
(MT Newswires) -- Japanese shares ended the week in green as a Reuters poll suggested the economy's likely returned to growth in the final quarter of 2025, supported by solid corporate investment and steady consumer spending.
The Nikkei 225 rose 0.8%, or 435.64 points, to close at 54,253.68.
Japan's real GDP likely grew at an annualised 1.6% in the fourth quarter, a Reuters poll showed, rebounding from a 2.3% contraction in July-September, with quarter-on-quarter growth seen at 0.4%.
Meanwhile, Japan's two biggest banks, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (TYO:8316), plan to increase holdings of Japanese government bonds as rising interest rates improve returns, despite growing unrealised losses on existing portfolios, after years of trimming exposure under ultra-low rates.
Separately, former top currency diplomat Takehiko Nakao said currency intervention can move markets quickly but would have more lasting impact if paired with steady rate increases, as the yen weakens ahead of Sunday's election.
In economic news, Japan's average household spending fell 2.6% in real terms in December from a year earlier, missing expectations for flat growth, while nominal spending edged down 0.3%. Real income was unchanged despite a nominal rise.
Japan's trade deficit narrowed to 1.750 trillion yen in January as export growth outpaced imports, helped by a weaker yen. Foreign exchange reserves rose by nearly $25 billion to $1.395 trillion at end-January, finance ministry data showed.
On the corporate front, Bandai Namco'sended 5% higher after nine-month attributable profit fell 11% to 115.04 billion yen despite a 4.9% rise in sales, and it raised its full-year profit forecast to 130 billion yen, with a planned 50 yen year-end dividend.
Ajinomoto's surged 13% after nine-month attributable profit rose 8.9% to 89.7 billion yen, prompting it to lift its full-year profit outlook to 130 billion yen while trimming its sales forecast.
Fujifilm's declined 3% after nine-month attributable net income increased 6.5% to 193.4 billion yen on higher sales, with a full-year profit forecast of 264.5 billion yen and a planned 35 yen year-end dividend.

Sumber : MT Newswires