The Perfect Holiday Gift Gift Now

Nikkei retreats and bond yields spike after BoJ holds rates in split decision

Gulf Today

|

September 20, 2025

Japan's Nikkei share average flipped to a loss on Friday, while bond yields jumped to 17-year peaks after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept interest rates steady as expected, but in a split decision with two of the nine board members voting for a hike.

Nikkei retreats and bond yields spike after BoJ holds rates in split decision

The central bank also announced it will begin selling its holdings of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and Japanese real-estate investment trusts (J-REITS), amassed over a decade of massive stimulus.

“It came as a surprise,” Hirofumi Suzuki, chief currency strategist at SMBC, said about the BOJ's decision.

“With the start of ETF sales and two dissenting votes against leaving policy unchanged,... the outcome was hawkish despite expectations for a straightforward hold.”

The Japanese yen initially strengthened following the central bank's policy announcement, but had given up most of those gains as BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda struck a balanced tone at his press conference, which started just as the stock market closed.

The Nikkei ended the session down 0.68 at 45,045.81, notably reclaiming the psychological 45,000 mark. It had tumbled as much as 1.8% in the immediate aftermath of the policy announcement.

In early trading, the Nikkei had risen as much as 1.2% to a record high of 45,852.75, driven by a surge in chip-sector stocks following an overnight rally in US peers.

WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON Gulf Today

Gulf Today

Gulf Today

Hollywood actress Jessica Alba lauds son's courage amid her divorce

Hollywood actress Jessica Alba is heaping praise on her son for his “bravery” amid “new changes” after her ongoing divorce from Cash Warren.

time to read

2 mins

January 04, 2026

Gulf Today

US jobless claims slide to cap a bumpy year for job market

Americans filed the fewest new jobless claims in a month last week, and while the number of unemployed workers collecting relief payments has eased from recent highs, there is little indication of a break from the weak hiring environment that settled in over the course of President Donald Trump's first year back at the White House.

time to read

1 min

January 04, 2026

Gulf Today

Swiatek rejects 'Battle of Sexes,' backs mixed team events

World number two Iga Swiatek said women's tennis was strong enough to thrive without controversial gender-based singles matches like the recent \"Battle of the Sexes\" between Nick Kyrgios and Aryna Sabalenka.

time to read

2 mins

January 04, 2026

Gulf Today

Gulf Today

Irish PM to meet Xi in first China visit in 14 years

Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin will visit China from Sunday and meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in the first visit by an Irish leader in 14 years, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday.

time to read

1 mins

January 04, 2026

Gulf Today

Cambodian government urges Thailand to pull out its troops

Cambodia called on neighbouring Thailand on Saturday to pull out its forces from areas Phnom Penh claims as its own, one week since a truce halted deadly clashes along their disputed border.

time to read

2 mins

January 04, 2026

Gulf Today

Gulf Today

Asia's factories end 2025 on firmer footing

Asia's factory powerhouses closed 2025 on a firmer footing, with activity swinging back to growth in several key economies as export orders picked up, helped by new product launches.

time to read

1 min

January 04, 2026

Gulf Today

Court orders man to pay another Dhs396,000

The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil, and Administrative Cases Court obligated a man to pay Dhs396,058 and fined him Dhs50,000 as compensation to another, from whom he seized the amount by deceiving him through believing that he could invest the money in trading through a secure platform that supposedly generated profits.

time to read

1 mins

January 04, 2026

Gulf Today

IndiGo flight delay sparks huge chaos at Delhi airport

Passengers at Delhi airport created a ruckus on Saturday after their IndiGo flight to Purnea was delayed, triggering anger among travellers who said the service had already faced disruptions a day earlier.

time to read

2 mins

January 04, 2026

Gulf Today

Al Tayer hails VP on 20th Accession Anniversary

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), said: “I am honoured to extend my warmest congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on the occasion of the 20th Accession Anniversary.

time to read

1 mins

January 04, 2026

Gulf Today

Gulf Today

KKR release Mustafizur on BCCI's order, BCB seeks change of venue

Kolkata Knight Riders have released fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh after being told to do so by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian Premier League (IPL) team said on Saturday amid growing tensions between the countries.

time to read

2 mins

January 04, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size