Japan's Nikkei plunges to 8-month low on Trump's tariff shock

Synopsis

Japan's Nikkei share average plummeted to an eight-month low following President Trump's announcement of a 24% levy on Japanese goods. The steep tariffs caused a widespread market decline, with the banking sector and automakers experiencing significant losses. Toyota shares fell 4.7%, and Tokyo Electron dropped 5.8%.

Japan's Nikkei share average slumped to an eight-month low on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump revealed a broad set of reciprocal tariffs, including a 24% levy on Japanese goods.

The Nikkei fell as much as 4.6% in early trading, dropping to 34,102.00 for the first time since August 7. By 0050 GMT, the benchmark index recouped some losses to 2.9%.

Of the Nikkei's 225 components, 216 were in the red, while just nine showed gains.

The broader Topix lost as much as 4.3% before recovering slightly to trade down 3.1%.

"We thought tariffs would be 10%, maybe 20%, but instead they were a whopping 24%," said Kazuo Kamitani, an equities strategist at Nomura Securities.

"Call it the Trump tariff shock," he said. "The market is firmly in risk-off mode."

Banks were the worst performers among the Tokyo Stock Exchange's 33 industry groupings, sliding 6.4%, as a sharp decline in bond yields at home and abroad darkened the outlook for income from lending and investing.

The bourse's automaker sub-index dropped nearly 4%, with a separate 25% tariff on car exports to the United States set to go into effect later on Thursday. Shares of Toyota Motor slid 4.7%.

Chip-sector heavyweights also saw significant sell-offs. Tokyo Electron, a chip-making equipment manufacturer, dropped 5.8%, while Advantest, a chip-testing equipment maker and Nvidia supplier, slumped 4.9%.

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