Nikkei Index Surpasses 44,000 Intraday for the First Time, Setting New All-Time High

Japan's leading stock index, the Nikkei 225 Average (hereafter referred to as the Nikkei Index), surpassed the 44,000 mark for the first time on September 9, setting a new intraday record high.

As of 11:09 a.m. on this day, the Nikkei Index was trading at 43,794.71, up 0.35% from the previous trading day.

EPA Yonhap News

At one point during the session, it climbed as high as 44,074, breaking the previous record of 43,876 set on August 19.

The strong close of all three major U.S. stock indexes on September 8 (U.S. Eastern Time), driven by expectations of an interest rate cut, boosted investor sentiment. In addition, Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) analyzed that the announcement of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's resignation and the expectation that the next government will pursue expansionary fiscal policies led to increased buying by foreign investors.

Masatoshi Kikuchi, Chief Equity Strategist at Mizuho Securities, stated, "It appears that foreign investors still have room to buy Japanese stocks, and expectations for 'change' in Japanese politics are driving the buying."

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