Japan's Nikkei Hits Record Highs Amid BOJ Board Nominations and Tech Gains

Japan's Nikkei 225 index reached record highs, surpassing 59,000 for the first time amid gains in tech and software stocks. The rise was supported by the Japanese government's nomination of two dovish academics to the Bank of Japan's board, signaling continued stimulus and easing rate hike expectations. While semiconductor shares showed mixed performance, software and IT firms rallied as investor concerns over AI disruption eased. The broader Topix index also advanced, with some profit-taking observed following strong corporate earnings.