After the Nikkei average turned down after the opening, buying in the high-tech sector, prompted by Microsoft's massive investment in data centers, Fujikura and Furukawa Electric are trading high.

Top News
US Foreign Exchange Market Summary: Temporary softening to the 156.80 yen level due to dollar selling and yen buying for position adjustments.
On the 3rd, in the New York foreign exchange market, the USD/JPY exchange rate closed at around 157.26 yen per dollar, approximately 25 yen lower compared to the previous day, with the dollar weakening and the yen strengthening. The euro was trading around 162.08 yen per euro, approximately 40 yen higher against the yen. The US manufacturing sentiment index for December 24th was 49.3, up 0.9 points from the previous month, reaching a high level after about 9 months. Amid the perception of the resilience of the US economy, the US long-term interest rates rose, pushing the USD/JPY exchange rate temporarily to the 157.40 yen level in expectations of an increase in the interest rate spread between Japan and the US due to dollar buying and yen selling.
Related Articles
【Today's Outlook】For Japanese participants, effectively the first market after the New Year, the trend of a strong dollar and weak yen continues.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines - 6th Day of Gain: Marine shipping companies, 40% increase in LNG vessels, aiming for stable supply of 1 trillion yen, expecting production increase in the USA = Nikkei
$Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (9104.JP)$Rose for the 6th consecutive day. According to the morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun dated the 6th, Japan's three major marine shipping companies are reported to increase their total number of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers by over 40% by the end of the 2030 fiscal year. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines plans to increase its LNG carrier fleet by 40% by the end of the 2028 fiscal year to a total of 140 vessels. They are also considering expanding it to 150 vessels by the 2030 fiscal year. $Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (9101.JP)$ are expected to increase by up to 30% to 120 vessels by the end of the 2028 fiscal year. $Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (9107.JP)$ to increase by 60% to 75 vessels by the end of the 2030 fiscal year.

Nippon Steel - 6th day of decline: Aiming for a breakthrough in US steel acquisition lawsuit, cancellation of US Steel acquisition order, 'a political decision' = Nikkei
$Nippon Steel (5401.JP)$Declined for the 6th day. According to the morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun dated the 5th, the company has reportedly decided to sue the US government regarding its acquisition plan of the US steel giant US Steel.

Fujikura rises, positively impacted by Microsoft's 12 trillion yen investment in data centers, also boosting Furukawa Electric.
$Fujikura (5803.JP)$Rallies. On the 3rd, US Microsoft announced an investment of $80 billion (about 12.6 trillion yen) in data centers, which is seen as a positive factor. Following Microsoft's massive investment, the company is being bought on expectations of increased demand for electrical wires. $Furukawa Electric (5801.JP)$ is also significantly higher.

Adtest, Disco, and other companies with a focus on the upside, benefiting from the rise in US semiconductor stocks, are being predominantly bought.
$Advantest (6857.JP)$、 $Disco (6146.JP)$Semiconductor manufacturing equipment-related companies, including the likes of Adtest and Disco, continue to see strong buying interest amid conflicting views on strength and weakness, leading to an upward trend. In the US stock market last weekend, led by NVIDIA, the semiconductor sector bounced back, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX index) soaring 2.8%. In response, the Tokyo market is dominated by buying back semiconductor major stocks, including the two companies positioned in relation to NVIDIA.

Following the 3 major GAINIANBANKUAI themes of the new year (1) Donald Trump-related "Increased interest with the start of the new administration" <Stock Search Top Feature>
The second term of the Trump administration will finally start on January 20. In the stock market, sectors related to the policies of the new administration are drawing attention, with defense being a representative sector. However, due to the high level of attention, it is believed that related stocks have already been somewhat well known, so this time we are focusing on promising stocks in sectors other than that. Keep an eye on virtual currency (cryptocurrency) and Self-Driving Cars, which are expected to benefit from regulatory easing under the new administration. In addition, do not miss 'that industry' which is said to have a close relationship with Mr. Trump.

Following the three major GAINIANBANKUAI of the New Year (2) AI, Datacenter 'Leap period continues with active investment' <Stock Exploration Top Feature>
In Japan, where labor shortages are becoming increasingly serious, more companies are introducing generative AI into their business to improve productivity. The key to coping with the explosive increase in data volume accompanying the spread of generative AI lies in Hyperscale Data Centers (DC). These are huge DCs with numerous AI servers, and investment plans by giant IT companies from the USA in Japan have been successively announced. Companies supplying peripheral equipment to DCs and those involved in electrical, communications-related facilities and construction can expect business expansion for up to 25 years.

In 2025, profit growth "skyrocketing", powerful stock list <New Year special feature>
In this special feature, we focus on stocks whose ordinary profits for the past three months have hit record quarterly profits and are expected to achieve the highest profits for the year, a situation known as 'skyrocketing profits.' In particular, we target companies that have been continuously setting record profits on a quarterly basis. Targeting stocks with a market capitalization of over 10 billion yen, regardless of this fiscal month, we pick stocks that have consecutively set the highest profits for two quarters or more in the past four quarters in the recent three-month financial results. In addition, we select 31 companies that have forecasted profits for this fiscal year (full-year plan) higher than the previous record profits, and list them in order of the largest upward revision rates in terms of the past highest quarterly profits performance.

Individual investor and Yuukotei Tamisuke: Will the related stocks be attractive in 'Nissan x Honda'? Analysis & focus on selected stocks [FISCO Social Reporter]
$Nissan Motor (7201.JP)$× $Honda Motor (7267.JP)$× $Mitsubishi Motors (7211.JP)$The news of the management integration will undoubtedly be a turning point in the future of Japan's automobile industry. However, with the tough situation at Nissan, it seems like the reactions from shareholders and internal Honda employees may not be very positive, right? It is said that a decision on the feasibility of the management integration will be made by June 2025, so we are currently keeping a close eye on the developments.