Nikkei 225 rises 0.70% to 62624.92 in early Tokyo trading

Japan's Nikkei 225 stood at 62624.92 at 09:15 Tokyo time on November 5, 2026. That was 436.29 points, or 0.70%, above the previous close of 62188.63.

What happened

The index started the Tokyo Stock Exchange morning session with a gain. The session began at 09:00, and the 09:15 reading showed the benchmark up 0.70% from the prior day's close. The rise of 436.29 points took the index well above the 62188.63 level at which the prior session ended.

In currency markets, USD/JPY stood at 158.31 at 09:30 in Tokyo. The pair was down 0.31, or 0.20%, from its previous level of 158.62. A lower USD/JPY figure means the yen buys slightly more dollars than before, so the Japanese currency was a little firmer.

Why it matters

The Nikkei 225 is the most widely followed gauge of Japanese equities. It tracks 225 large companies listed in Tokyo, so its opening direction often shapes the tone for the rest of the Asian session. A gain of 0.70% at the start is a moderate move, and the full-day result will depend on how trading develops after the first minutes.

The yen matters for Japan's market because many large companies earn a share of their revenue abroad. Moves in the exchange rate can change how those earnings look when converted into yen. A stronger yen tends to reduce the yen value of foreign income, while a weaker yen tends to raise it. Today's yen move is small, at 0.20%, and it came alongside a rise in the index rather than a fall.

For investors, the figures show a modest gain in Japanese equities alongside a slight firming of the yen at the start of the day. Together they describe the state of the market at this hour.

What to watch next

The Tokyo morning session runs until 11:30. After a midday break, trading resumes at 12:30 and continues until the close at 15:30, Tokyo time. Those hours will show whether the opening gain of 0.70% holds, widens or narrows.

Market participants will also follow USD/JPY through the session, with the 158.62 level from the previous session as the reference for the day's change. The comparison of the Nikkei 225 close with the previous close of 62188.63 will give the final measure of the day's result.