Last Trading Day of 2025: Nikkei Closes Above 50,000 Amid US Stock Decline, Profit-Taking Dominates

Year-End Market Faces Pullback

On December 30, 2025, marking the final trading session of the year, Tokyo’s stock market saw selling driven mainly by risk aversion, with investors locking in profits before the year-end. The Nikkei 225 closed at 50,339.48 yen, down 187.44 yen (0.37%) from the previous day. The decline was largely influenced by falling US stocks, which prompted futures-led selling from early morning.

The TOPIX index finished at 3,408.97, down 17.55 points (0.51%), with an estimated trading volume of about 1.568 billion shares. On the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime Market, the number of advancing stocks was just 356, while declining stocks totaled 1,194, showing a clear tilt toward selling.

Financials and Non-Ferrous Metals Lead the Decline

Out of the 33 sectors on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, only four saw gains. The top performers were mining, precision machinery, shipping, and electric/gas utilities. Conversely, the biggest declines were in securities and commodities, non-ferrous metals, miscellaneous manufacturing, services, and financials—highlighting a broad sell-off in financial-related stocks.

Some Stocks Show Buying Opportunities

Despite the overall downturn, some stocks attracted buying interest. For example, KAWADEN (6648), which focuses on infrastructure resilience, saw continued buying thanks to strong earnings forecasts. Fujitsu (6702) also gained attention after being rated as a top AI solutions provider domestically, with upgrades from major brokerages like Daiwa Securities boosting investor confidence.

2025 Ends on a Record High Note

2025 turned out to be a historic year for the stock market, with record-breaking gains and the Nikkei closing above 50,000 for the first time at year-end. The year saw steady growth across Japanese equities, creating a bullish environment that benefited many investors.

However, the late-year profit-taking suggests investors are eager to lock in gains, and some caution is emerging about how the market will perform in the new year.