2025.08.2900:42:23UTC+00Japanese Shares Slip as Traders Digest Data

On Friday, the Nikkei 225 Index edged down by 0.3% to approximately 42,700 points. Similarly, the broader Topix Index also declined by 0.3% to 3,080 points, offsetting gains seen in the previous session. Investors were digesting a series of economic reports: July's figures indicated that both industrial production and retail sales fell short of market expectations, while Tokyo's core inflation rate remained above the Bank of Japan's 2% target. In contrast, there was a positive development in the labor market, as the unemployment rate decreased to 2.3% from June's 2.5%, indicating continued labor market strength. In the realm of trade, Japan’s lead negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, decided to cancel his scheduled trip to Washington this week as Tokyo seeks to address outstanding issues in its trade agreement with the United States before cementing a final deal. Among significant market players, Lasertec declined by 0.9%, Mitsubishi UFJ by 1%, Tokyo Electron by 0.6%, Toyota Motor by 0.9%, and Tokyo Electric Power by 1.3%.