Nikkei 225 Rises Despite Expanding Japanese Trade Deficit

The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 1.88 percent to 67,480.31 on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. This rally followed positive momentum from Wall Street and was driven by significant gains in the technology and financial sectors, specifically within Advantest and Mizuho Financial.

Contrasting the market growth, the Ministry of Finance reported a June merchandise trade deficit of 406.906 billion yen. This figure significantly exceeded the forecasted shortfall of 120.0 billion yen, fueled by a 25.4 percent annual increase in imports.

Global economic conditions remained volatile as crude oil prices rose. This price increase followed a 10th consecutive day of attacks by the United States government on Iran, which intensified supply concerns regarding the Strait of Hormuz crisis.