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Japan’s stock market surged to record highs on Monday as fiscal dove Sanae Takaichi secured leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), setting her up to become Japan’s next prime minister. The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 2.8% to 47,061.07, breaching the 46,000 level for the first time, while the Topix Index rose 2.1%, reflecting strong investor optimism about Takaichi’s pro-growth stance.
The market rally came as investors cheered expectations of aggressive fiscal stimulus and continued monetary easing, key elements of Takaichi’s agenda. Known for her devotion to the late Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” policies, Takaichi, 64, is widely viewed as the most expansionary candidate among the five contenders who competed to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a known policy hawk.
In the bond market, the two-year Japanese government bond yield fell 5 basis points to 0.89%, as traders priced in expectations that the Bank of Japan will delay any near-term rate hikes. Meanwhile, the yen weakened more than 1% against both the US dollar and euro, highlighting renewed appetite for risk assets and Japan’s export-friendly outlook.
Analysts say a “Takaichi trade” had already formed ahead of the LDP election—long on equities and short on government bonds, particularly longer-dated maturities—anticipating her victory and her commitment to growth-oriented stimulus measures.
Market participants now expect new economic stimulus packages, continued liquidity support, and potential corporate tax reforms to sustain momentum in Japan’s post-pandemic recovery. With Takaichi at the helm, Japan’s financial markets appear poised for an era of revived optimism and policy continuity, echoing the spirit of Abenomics that once defined Japan’s economic resurgence.
