Japanese Stocks Slide After Trump Speech

2026-04-02 02:38 By Joshua Ferrer 1 min. read

The Nikkei 225 Index slid 2.4% to close at 52,463, while the broader Topix Index slipped 1.6% to 3,612 on Thursday, reversing gains from the previous session as markets scaled back expectations for a quick end to the Middle East conflict after US President Trump's speech.

Trump said Washington’s core objectives in the conflict were nearing completion, but gave no clear timeline for ending the war, while warning that the US could still strike Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks.

He added that the US did not need the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting it would reopen naturally once tensions ease, though concerns over the waterway kept energy markets volatile.

Hopes of an imminent end to the month-long conflict had earlier supported global equities, but his remarks reversed sentiment, sending stocks lower again.

Most sectors declined, with index heavyweights leading losses, including SoftBank Group (-4.3%), Tokyo Electron (-3.2%), and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (-1.7%).



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