Nikkei Crosses 60,000, Eyes Record Close

Japan's Nikkei 225 index crossed 60,000 for the first time and was on track for a record closing high. The milestone marks a sharp recovery for Japanese equities, which spent decades depressed after the asset bubble collapse of the early 1990s. The Nikkei had briefly touched its all-time intraday peak earlier this year before pulling back, making a sustained close above this level significant for investor sentiment. A weaker yen has boosted exporters' earnings, corporate governance reforms have attracted foreign institutional money, and the Bank of Japan's gradual policy shift has kept borrowing costs manageable. Together these forces have reset valuations higher across the index. Investors will now watch whether the rally holds above 60,000 on a closing basis, which would confirm the move as structural rather than a brief spike. Export-heavy sectors and financials stand to benefit most if foreign inflows continue. Any yen strengthening or global risk-off shift remains the key downside risk to watch.