Nikkei 225
Region: ASIA · Currency: JPY
Price history
Other indices
What drives the price
The Nikkei 225 tracks 225 large Japanese companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, weighted by price (similar to the Dow). It is the most widely-cited Japanese equity benchmark, with heavyweights including Fast Retailing, SoftBank, Tokyo Electron and Sony.
- USD/JPY moves are the dominant driver — yen weakness lifts the export-heavy index
- Bank of Japan policy shifts (yield-curve control, rate hikes) trigger large index moves
- Semiconductor cycle exposure via Tokyo Electron, Advantest and Disco gives Nikkei AI-cycle beta
- The TOPIX (broader market-cap weighted) is the institutional preferred benchmark; Nikkei 225 is retail/media-facing
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nikkei 225?
Nikkei 225 is a major stock market index tracking large companies traded in Japan. It is used by investors and analysts as a benchmark for the broader Japan equity market and serves as the underlying for many tradeable ETFs and futures contracts.
How can I invest in the Nikkei 225?
You cannot buy the index directly, but you can gain exposure via ETFs that replicate it, or trade futures and options on it. ETF expense ratios for major indices typically range from 0.05% to 0.5% per year.
What drives the Nikkei 225 day-to-day?
Short-term moves are driven by central bank policy expectations, the path of Japan interest rates, corporate earnings releases, and global risk sentiment. Larger structural moves track economic-growth and inflation cycles over months.
When does the Nikkei 225 market open and close?
Trading hours follow the home exchange — typically 9:00-9:30 to 15:30-17:00 local time on weekdays. Pre-market and after-hours trading is available via futures and certain ETFs that trade around the clock during the trading week.
Latest news
See all →
US Premarket Movers: S&P 500 Futures Slip 0.4% as Tech Stocks Retreat
S&P 500 futures fell 0.4% on Tuesday as technology stocks retreated, signaling a cautious open for US equities amid renewed selling pressure in high-growth names.
General Atlantic CEO Calls QIA $500M Partnership a Great Opportunity
General Atlantic CEO Bill Ford praised the $500 million commitment from Qatar Investment Authority as a great opportunity, expanding their long-standing partnership in global growth equity.
Wall Street Puts Blockchain to Work in $13 Trillion Repo Market
JPMorgan has spent over a decade and hundreds of millions developing blockchain systems for the $13 trillion repo market, aiming to improve efficiency in short-term borrowing.
About this index
Nikkei 225 is one of the most-tracked equity benchmarks in its market. NowPrice publishes the live level along with intraday range and a 24-hour / 7-day / 30-day price-history chart. Data is sourced from Yahoo Finance and refreshed every 5 minutes during local trading hours; outside of session, the figure is the most recent close.