Nikkei 225 Drops 1,484 Points at the Open, Erasing Recent Gains
As seen on the 24/7 Wall St. homepage on September 2, 2026.
Japan opened 1,484 points lower, wiping out a chunk of the run that carried the index above 66,000. With BOJ rates at 30-year highs and the yen still under pressure, Asia sets the risk tone before US futures wake up.
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Japan's benchmark index shed 1,484 points at the open, erasing a meaningful portion of the run that had carried it above the 66,000 level in recent weeks.
The index had been consolidating in the 66,000 to 66,400 range across several recent sessions before this morning's gap lower.
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Two forces are bearing down on Japanese equities at the same time: Bank of Japan interest rates sitting at 30-year highs and persistent pressure on the yen. Either one alone would weigh on sentiment, and together they give investors reason to reduce exposure at the open.
Because Asia sets the risk tone before US futures markets fully wake up, a move of this size in Tokyo tends to reverberate. Traders watching overnight positioning will be tracking whether this selloff stabilizes through the morning session or deepens as other regional markets respond.