TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei closed at a more than two-month high on the first trading day of 2026, led by chip-related stocks, as investors brushed off the potential impact of US military action in Venezuela.
The Nikkei jumped nearly 3 percent to 51,832.8 on Monday, its highest close since October 31. The benchmark also marked its highest daily rise since October 20.
The broader Topix rose 2.01 percent to a record close of 3,477.52.
Shares of chip-testing equipment maker Advantest jumped 7.84 percent, while the chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron climbed 7.6 percent.
Chip-related shares tracked a 4 percent gain in the US semiconductor index on Wall Street’s opening session of the year on Friday.
“The market turned risk-on as if uncertainties over the impact of the US action on Venezuela had been removed,” said Kazuaki Shimada, chief strategist at IwaiCosmo Securities.
The surge in Japanese equities followed a dramatic weekend of events, which saw the US capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
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