Japan's Nikkei 225 Set to Open Higher Friday, Tracking Wall Street Rally

Japanese equities are poised to extend their rebound on Friday, May 29, 2026, with Nikkei 225 futures pointing to a higher open after an overnight rally on Wall Street lifted risk sentiment. The benchmark Nikkei 225 surged 0.8% to close at 41,200 on Thursday, driven by a weaker yen and strong domestic corporate earnings. The yen held near 152.50 per dollar, providing a tailwind for exporters. Overnight, the S&P 500 gained 0.5%, led by technology shares, as investors shrugged off earlier trade concerns. "Stabilizing global bond yields and positive U.S. tech earnings are fueling the rebound in Tokyo," said a market analyst at a major Japanese brokerage. Market participants will be watching April industrial production data due later Friday for further cues on the domestic economy.