Japan's Nikkei Index Surpasses 72,000 for First Time; Yen Value Declines

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average, Japan's benchmark stock index, rose for the eighth consecutive trading day on Monday (June 22), closing above the 72,000 mark for the first time in history.
The Nikkei index closed at 72,353.96, up 1.55% from the previous trading day.
During the session, it reached as high as 72,831.73, setting a new all-time intraday high.
Buying interest continued in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related stocks.
In particular, reports that the Sanae Takaichi cabinet plans to invest at least 370 trillion yen (approximately 3,500 trillion won) in public-private partnerships for 17 growth strategy projects, including "Physical AI," boosted the stock prices of companies such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment maker Tokyo Electron and telecommunications cable manufacturer Fujikura.
In the Tokyo foreign exchange market, the value of the yen showed a downward trend, with the yen-dollar exchange rate trading between 161.72 and 161.74 yen on Monday afternoon.
The yen-dollar exchange rate briefly climbed to 161.81 yen, marking its highest level since July 2024, when it reached 161.96 yen.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that in the foreign exchange market, there are ongoing opinions that it would not be surprising if the Japanese government and the Bank of Japan intervened to buy yen at any time, alongside forecasts that the effect of such intervention would be limited.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.