Nikkei 225 slips as oil-driven inflation concerns lift rate-hike expectations
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.6% to below 66,000, extending prior losses. Higher oil prices fueled inflation fears, while rising Treasury yields and bets on near-term Fed hikes, plus BoJ rate-hike expectations for September, pressured stocks.
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.6% to below 66,000 on Tuesday, extending losses from the previous session as rising oil prices stoked inflation concerns and strengthened expectations for near-term interest rate hikes.
Japanese shares also followed a weak lead from Wall Street overnight, where Treasury yields climbed on growing bets that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this month.
Domestically, investors are also betting that the Bank of Japan could hike rates in September amid concerns over persistent yen weakness and import-driven inflation.
Technology and AI-related stocks led the decline, with notable losses from Fujikura (-3%), Advantest (-2.9%), Tokyo Electron (-4.6%), Taiyo Yuden (-1.5%) and Murata Manufacturing (-1.4%).
Financial stocks dropped as well, while consumer stocks posted small gains.