Xinhua reported Monday morning that Japan’s benchmark Nikkei Stock Average rose 1,976.57 points, or 3.44 percent, to 59,411.34 after plunging over 3,600 points on Friday, its third‑largest point drop on record. The jump followed a late‑week recovery on Wall Street, where technology shares had regained some ground after heavy selling pressure amid concerns over tighter regulation of data‑center construction and artificial intelligence investment after the U.S. midterm elections.
Other sources noted an earlier stage of the rebound. The Economic Times reported that the Nikkei had risen 2 percent to 58,584.11 in early trade, recovering part of Friday’s 6 percent slump that had pushed the index more than 20 percent below the record high it had reached during the week. Xinhua’s later figure of 59,411.34 suggests that the index finished the morning with a bigger gain.
Alongside the Nikkei, the broader Topix index also climbed 126.84 points, or 3.42 percent, to 3,834.83, reflecting a broad-issue buying spree. Xinhua cited investors moving into a wide range of stocks as they sought bargains after the steep losses earlier in the week.
Analysts point to the late‑week Wall Street rebound as a key catalyst. The technology sector’s recovery, even as concerns lingered over regulatory pressures, provided momentum that spilled into Asian markets. On the back of that, investors across Japan appeared to have a renewed appetite for equities.
While major indices displayed strong performance, the market’s swing from a 3,600‑point drop to a 3% rebound underscores the volatility that investors are navigating. The Nikkei’s late‑week recovery suggests a market that remains sharply responsive to global market sentiment and regulatory developments. Sources remain divided on the exact midday figures—Xinhua’s 59,411.34 versus the Economic Times’ 58,584.11—but both confirm a substantial rebound from the Friday plunge.
Overall, the Nikkei’s Monday morning surge marks a notable shift from the sharp fall earlier in the week, depicting a market that is both fragile and quickly responsive to global market signals.
