SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1

Aimei Health Technology Co., Ltd. is a blank check company, which engages in entering a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company was founded on April 27, 2023 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Aimei Health Technology Co Ltd

AFJK is generating intense community conversation, characterized by extremely high volatility and speculative trading, as it continues to exhibit patterns seen in other low-float, China-linked stocks that have recently experienced dramatic price movements. Many traders are chasing potential explosive gains, while others caution about the stock's "pump and dump" reputation and the significant risks of rapid reversals and trading halts.

Gorilla Technology Group, Inc. engages in the provision of video intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) security, edge AI data analytics, and operational technology security solutions and services in Asia Pacific. It operates through the following segments: Video IoT, Security Convergence, and Other. The company was founded by Spincer Koh in May 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Gorilla Technology Group Inc

Gorilla Technology Group is trending amid a sharp stock price decline to 52-week lows, sparking intense debate among investors. Bulls emphasize strong fundamentals like a $1.4 billion contract and robust financials, while attributing the suppressed price to alleged manipulation and purchasing restrictions by major brokerage firms, fueling expectations of a future squeeze. Skeptics, however, point to management's communication issues and past perceived misleading announcements, questioning the company's ability to translate business growth into shareholder value.

ESH Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company. It was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company was founded on November 17, 2021 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

ESH Acquisition Corp - Ordinary Shares - Class A

ESHA is trending amid a broader 'SPAC mania,' with traders highlighting its extremely low float as a key catalyst for potential explosive price action. The community is actively comparing ESHA to recent low-float SPAC runners like AFJK and ASPC, anticipating a significant sympathy play or short squeeze. This has generated intense speculative interest, despite some underlying skepticism, as many expect ESHA to follow its peers with parabolic gains.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. engages in the development and commercialization of therapies for high unmet medical needs. The firm intends to treat schizophrenia, jet lag disorder, atopic dermatitis, central nervous system disorders, and circadian rhythm sleep disorder. Its product portfolio includes HETLIOZ, Fanapt, Tradipitant, Trichostatin, and AQW051. The company was founded by Mihael Hristos Polymeropoulos and Argeris N. Karabelas in 2002 and is headquartered in Washington, DC.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc

Vanda Pharmaceuticals is trending following its recent FDA approval of NEREUS (tradipitant), marking the first new motion sickness drug in nearly 40 years. The community is buzzing with excitement over its significant potential to address GLP-1 induced nausea and vomiting, fueling widespread speculation about a potential buyout by major pharma and a substantial re-rating of the stock's valuation. Investors are largely bullish, anticipating further upside driven by this approval and additional pipeline catalysts.

RAGE GUY (RAGE) is a cryptocurrency inspired by the Rage Guy meme, one of the earliest and most recognizable characters from internet rage comics. The project captures the cultural legacy of early meme history and brings it onto the blockchain in tokenized form. It is designed as a community-driven digital asset that celebrates internet culture, nostalgia, and the role memes play in shaping online communities.

Rage Guy

RAGE CRYPTO is trending, fueled by an exceptionally active and dedicated community passionately championing the "OG meme" narrative of Rage Comics. This committed base is consistently building out an ecosystem with tools like RageMaker and RageGames, aiming to onboard new users into crypto, while expressing strong conviction for significant long-term growth and widespread recognition within the market.

Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc. engages in the provision of design, development, and sale of exoskeleton technology that currently has applications in healthcare and industrial markets. The company was founded on January 30, 2012 and is headquartered in San Rafael, CA.

Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc

Ekso Bionics Holdings is trending due to its proposed business combination with Applied Digital Cloud to form ChronoScale Corporation, an entity focused on AI-accelerated computing infrastructure. This catalyst has sparked intense community discussion, with many anticipating significant upside from the AI sector and low float dynamics, while a strong counter-narrative raises concerns about potential shareholder dilution and the merger's unfavorable terms for existing EKSO holders.

NIO, Inc. is a holding company which engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of electric vehicles. Its products include the EP9 supercar and ES8 7-seater SUV. It provides users with home charging, power express valet services, and other power solutions including access to public charging, access to power mobile charging trucks, and battery swapping. It also offers other value-added services such as service package, battery payment arrangement, and vehicle financing and license plate registration. The company was founded by Bin Li and Li Hong Qin on November 28, 2014 and is headquartered in Jiading, China.

NIO Inc - ADR

NIO Inc

NIO is trending as China's confirmed extension of EV trade-in subsidies into 2026 and new mandatory energy consumption standards provide a significant sector tailwind. This is fueling community optimism about the company's strong Q4 sales and potential profitability, driven by the CEO's upbeat forecast and recent milestones like 40,000 ES8 deliveries and 96 million battery swaps, with many believing the stock is undervalued due to perceived market manipulation and the long-term advantages of its battery swap technology.

BlackRock Institutional Trust Company N.A. - iShares Silver Trust

iShares Silver Trust

The iShares Silver Trust ($SLV) is experiencing extreme volatility due to the CME's recent margin hikes and impending Chinese export restrictions on silver, fueling intense market speculation. Bulls are aggressively anticipating a significant short squeeze, citing growing industrial demand from sectors like AI and a decoupling of physical versus paper market prices. Conversely, bears warn of an orchestrated pump-and-dump, predicting sharp corrections as leveraged positions face potential liquidation.

iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF - iShares Bitcoin Trust Beneficial Interest

iShares Bitcoin ETF

IBIT is trending as Bitcoin ETF inflows return following a period of outflows, boosted by a crypto market rebound and a Bank of Japan rate decision. Community sentiment is sharply divided, with bulls highlighting renewed institutional interest and potential seasonal strength, while bears anticipate a prolonged "crypto winter" and a significant price correction based on historical 4-year cycles. This ongoing debate between Bitcoin's traditional cyclical patterns and evolving institutional market dynamics is a key driver of current conversation.

Themes ETF Trust - Leverage Shares 2X Long UNH Daily ETF

Leverage Shares 2X Long UNH Daily ETF

The Leverage Shares 2X Long UNH Daily ETF (UNHG) is facing significant community backlash following an unexpected dividend event that caused a sharp decline in its value, despite the underlying UNH stock remaining relatively stable. Investors are expressing widespread confusion and frustration, with many labeling the event as "scam," "decay," or "manipulation," leading to intense debate over the legitimacy and operational transparency of this new leveraged ETF.

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Nifty 50

Nifty Bank

Reliance Industries Ltd.

Zomato Ltd.

Tata Consultancy Services

Tata Motors Ltd.

HDFC Bank Ltd.

ITC Ltd.

Adani Enterprises Ltd

Axis Bank Ltd

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SPDR S&P 500 ETF

Apple Inc.

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Top-Performing International ETFs of 2025

International ETFs like VEA, EZU & EEM outshone U.S. peers in 2025 as cheaper valuations, diversified exposure, and stimulus measures drove substantial gains.

<ul class="summary-bullets"><li>Japan, with its zero-interest rates and massive liquidity, has served as a major funding source for global carry trades.</li><li>According to estimates, Japanese institutions now hold about $1.1 trillion in U.S. Treasuries, the largest foreign position.</li><li>Businessman and author&nbsp;Robert Kiyosaki said, “The biggest crash into history began over Thanksgiving,” with Japan signaling its intention to raise rates.</li></ul>Japan has once again sparked panic among U.S. investors, even as they are grappling with a raft of domestic headwinds. The Bank of Japan (BoJ), which maintained its interest rates at near-zero to negative levels for more than two decades, may have chosen an inopportune time to restart its rate-hike chatter.When the Japanese central bank began raising interest rates from negative to 0-0.25% in March 2024, marking the first increase in 17 years, and then raised them further to around 0.25% in July 2024, the domestic and global markets took a tumble.The global markets could be witnessing a deja vu. Why does a Japanese rate hike create a ripple in the U.S. markets, impacting riskier bets across the board?On Aug. 5, 2024, the S&amp;P 500, a measure of broader market performance, fell 3% after Japan’s Nikkei 225 Average slumped 12%, marking the worst day since the Black Monday crash in 19867. Fears concerning the unwinding of carry trades were blamed for the sell-off.<h2 class="st-heading-2">What Are Carry Trades?</h2>For decades, Japan's zero-rate policy made the yen one of the cheapest funding currencies on earth.&nbsp;Some of investors' favorite plays were to borrow in yen at near-zero rates, invest in higher-yielding assets (like U.S. stocks or Treasuries), and pocket the spread. This “carry trade” actually carries a lot of weight.Japan,&nbsp;in fact, pursued an ultra-easy monetary policy since the start of the century, inspiring a flourishing carry trade. When the underlying currency strengthens, there is less incentive to put it to work, leading to unwinding of positions. This, in turn, results in a large-scale sell-off.As author and businessman Robert Kiyosaki&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/theRealKiyosaki/status/1994910053539917997">put</a> it bluntly on X: "The Japanese 'carry trade' blew the assets of the world into the biggest bubble in the world." Put simply, a surge in JGB yields threatens that entire structure. If borrowing costs in Japan rise, the math behind the carry trade no longer makes much sense, and capital can rush out of America.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;BoJ Interest Rates Trajectory<img src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Japan_interest_rate_png_86727c1213.webp" alt="Japan interest rate.png">&nbsp;Source: TradingViewJapan held a net $3.62 trillion in overseas stocks and bonds at the end of June, Reuters&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/japanese-yens-safe-haven-illusion-shatters-2025-11-19/">reported,</a> citing IMF data. An August 2024 report from JPMorgan&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://am.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-am-aem/global/en/insights/eye-on-the-market/there-is-no-place-like-home-amv.pdf">stated</a> that a negative policy rate in Japan enticed Japanese households, pension plans, state-owned banks, and the BoJ to create a $20 trillion carry trade. Japan used its low-cost borrowing rate to invest in overseas assets and longer-term domestic assets.<h2 class="st-heading-2">JGB Yields Spiral Higher</h2>On Monday, the yield of Japanese government bonds, called JGBs, spiked across the curve, with Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda’s comments on the monetary policy trajectory triggering the rise. While speaking to business leaders in the city of Nagoya, Ueda said the mechanism by which both wages and prices rise moderately has been restored and that the central bank is actively collecting information on companies' wage-raising intentions,&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/markets/bonds/2-year-japan-government-bond-yields-rise-above-1-on-boj-hike-speculation">according</a> to Nikkei.&nbsp;The BoJ will “consider the pros and cons of raising the policy interest rate and make decisions as appropriate,” Ueda said.A Reuters report stated that the odds of a rate hike at the Dec. 18-19 BoJ Monetary Policy Committee meeting have risen to 80%, up from 60% last week.The 10-year JGB yield was last seen trading up 3.77% to 1.87%, marking the highest level in more than 17 years. The 2-year bond yield jumped 5.03% to 1.023%, its highest level since June 2008.<img src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Screenshot_2025_12_01_at_2_48_07_AM_png_f9c52053af.webp" alt="Screenshot 2025-12-01 at 2.48.07 AM.png">Markets ReactJapan’s main stock market gauge, the Nikkei 225 average, shed nearly 2% on Monday, which happens to be the first trading session of December, as domestic rate-hike chatter sent the yen higher against major global currencies and bond yields higher.Against this backdrop, the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (SPY)</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/QQQ">Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)</a>, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Indices, fell 0.55% and 0.67%, respectively, in Monday's premarket session. The major index futures were also lower early Monday.For the year, the SPY, QQQ, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/EWJ">iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)</a> have gained 17.6%, 21.6%, and 24.7%, respectively.&nbsp;<h2 class="st-heading-2">Fed To Go The Other Way?</h2>The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut the Fed funds rate by a quarter point at its rate-setting meeting scheduled for Dec. 9-10. The central bank has already cut rates by the same magnitude twice this year. The Trump administration is pressuring the central bank to reduce rates further to reinvigorate the domestic economy, which is facing multiple challenges, including a bloated fiscal deficit, a stuttering job market and inflation that stays above the central bank target.Also, at the October meeting, the Fed stated that it would end its quantitative tightening (QT), a stance that would allow it to shrink its balance sheet by allowing bonds to mature without reinvesting the proceeds.&nbsp;<a class="st-link-external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.mfs.com/en-gb/institutions-and-consultants/insights/market-insights/fed-ends-qt-what-it-means-markets.html">According</a> to MFS Investment Management, the end of QT would exert downward pressure on the dollar.<h2 class="st-heading-2">Will Seasonality Provide Thrust?</h2>Despite uncertainties, the U.S. market is entering one of its seasonally strong periods, following a robust performance so far this year. The year-end rally, referred to as the “Santa Claus rally,” is attributed to year-end tax strategies and portfolio rebalancing, end-of-the-year bonus deployment and to some extent to the holiday cheer.&nbsp;The S&amp;P 500 Index, a measure of broader market performance, has gained 16.5% this year, with megacap tech stocks exposed to artificial intelligence (AI) powering much of the advance. The index is trading just 1% below its all-time high. That said, year-end gains are not a given. AI skepticism has been building up, causing a reversal in some of the high-flying exposed names, and macro and geopolitical uncertainties abound.&nbsp;For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/nvda-vs-aapl-vs-googl-vs-msft-which-megacap-will-end-2025-as-most-valued-company/cL5eoJUREhW">NVDA vs. AAPL vs. GOOGL vs. MSFT: Which Megacap Will End 2025 As Most Valued Company? Retail Backs Nvidia Despite Recent Headwinds</a>

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on November 17, 2025, in New York City. 

The Quiet Surge In Japanese Yields Is Anything But Local — And Investors In US Stocks May Feel It Soon

The Japanese 10-year bond yield has risen to levels not seen in more than 17 years. 

Equity

Worried About US Market Volatility? Explore These Japanese ETFs

Keep Japanese ETFs like EWJ, DXJ, and EWJV in your watchlist as investors pivot from volatile U.S. markets to Japan's surging equities.  

U.S. bond markets may likely see some ripple effects emerging from faraway Japan following the weekend’s political developments. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, making her the first woman to head the party — and potentially the country’s first female prime minister.Given Takaichi’s credentials as a pro-stimulus leader, the yen weakened above the 150 level against the dollar for the first time in two months, and the yield on the 10-year Japanese Government Bond (JGB) climbed to a 17-year high. Goldman Sachs analysts expect the overseas bond markets to move higher in tandem, according to a Bloomberg report.In a note published on Oct. 5, Goldman Sachs strategists, led by Bill Zu, said for every 10 basis-point “idiosyncratic JGB shock,” yields on the U.S., German, and U.K. bonds could rise by two to three points. According to Investing.com data, the 10-year JGB yield rose 0.020 of a percentage point to 1.679%.At last check, the U.S. 10-year Treasury note yielded 4.154%, up 3.5 basis points, despite the government shutdown extending to its sixth day and recent data points signaling economic softness, particularly in the labor market.The U.S. stock market has been rising to record levels due to expectations that the Federal Reserve, which resumed rate cuts in September, would make additional cuts this year and into early 2026. Rising Japanese bond yields, therefore, raise concerns about the longer-dated U.S.&nbsp;notes&nbsp;as the government seeks to increase borrowing and inflation remains sticky.The <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (SPY)</a>, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the S&amp;P 500 Index, and the <a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/QQQ">Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)</a> have risen 15.2% and 18.4%, respectively, for the year. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment toward the SPY and QQQ ETFs was both ‘bearish’ by early Monday, while the message volume on both streams was at ‘high’ levels. The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) has advanced nearly 23%.“Japan has been a net exporter of bearish shocks onto global long-end rates this year,” Goldman strategists said. “We expect the news of Ms. Takaichi’s election as LDP President to result in higher long-end JGB yields and a steeper curve.”How the political landscape shapes up in the Asian nation will determine the extent of sell-off seen in longer-term JGBs, Goldman said. Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions. “The long-end of the JGB curve has been decoupled from its usual cyclical drivers for some time, and increased uncertainty will likely keep long-end risk premia higher for now,” Goldman Strategists said in the report.Japanese stocks advanced strongly on Monday, driven by hopes of stimulus, with the Nikkei 225 market gauge settling the session up 4.75% at a fresh record.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/amc-rides-taylor-swift-movie-hype-to-weekend-box-office-record/ch6bw2GR3Xi">AMC Rides Taylor Swift Movie Hype To Weekend Box Office Record: CEO Lauds ‘Iconic’ Singer Amid Retail Bullishness</a>

Sanae Takaichi, the newly-elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), attends a press conference after the LDP presidential election on October 4, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. 

Goldman Flags Upside Risk To US Long-Term Yields After Japan’s ‘Bond Shock’ Triggered By Takaichi’s LDP Win

For every 10 basis-point “idiosyncratic JGB shock,” yields on the U.S., German, and U.K. bonds could rise by two to three points, Goldman strategists said.

Goldman Flags Upside Risk to US Long-Term Yields After Japan’s ‘Bond Shock’ Triggered by Takaichi’s LDP Win

Japanese automakers pledged to keep wage growth on track after the U.S. and Japan finalized a trade deal that slashed tariffs on cars, light trucks and auto parts to 15% from 27.5%, easing pressure on one of Japan’s most important export sectors.Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association chair Masanori Katayama said Wednesday the industry would “wholeheartedly strive to ensure the virtuous cycle of wage increases continues,” speaking in Tokyo alongside chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, who led the July 22 deal, Bloomberg&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-17/japan-s-carmakers-pledge-to-keep-up-wage-growth-momentum">reported</a>.Akazawa said the compromise “managed to hold our ground at the very last moment” and urged carmakers to back a $550 billion U.S. investment fund tied to the accord.The executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Sept. 4 set the new 15% baseline duty on Japanese auto imports starting Tuesday, with separate treatment for aerospace products.&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/japan-tariff-cut-takes-effect-tuesday-us-lowers-duties-on-cars-light-trucks-and-auto-parts-to-15/chwybKPRdUy">Tokyo agreed to offset measures</a>, including the procurement of 100 Boeing aircraft, increased purchases of U.S. farm and defense goods, and discussions on an Alaskan LNG offtake deal.Meanwhile, trade data show Japan’s car exports to the U.S. fell in August, with shipment value down 28.4% and volumes off 9.5%, as automakers cut prices to defend market share. Toyota, which had warned of a $10 billion profit hit from higher levies, said the new framework provides “much-needed clarity” for the industry.On Stocktwits, retail sentiment leaned ‘bullish’ for the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), both seeing ‘normal’ message volume, while the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) drew a more ‘neutral’ stance from traders amid ‘low’ activity.So far this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPY</a> has gained 13.3% and&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/QQQ">QQQ</a> is up 15.9%, while&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/EWJ">EWJ</a> has outperformed both with a 22.2% rise.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

A lot of cars are lined up for importing and exporting cars to the port.

Japanese Carmakers Vow To Sustain Wage Growth As Trump’s Trade Deal Slashes Auto Tariffs 

Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association chair Masanori Katayama said the industry would “wholeheartedly strive to ensure the virtuous cycle of wage increases continues” following the tariff cut.

The U.S. will start charging a 15% tariff on Japanese cars, light trucks and auto parts from early Tuesday morning, Customs and Border Protection said, putting into effect a trade deal the two countries sealed in July.The change, laid out in an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Sept. 4, reduces auto duties from 27.5% and establishes a baseline 15% tariff on nearly all Japanese imports, with separate treatment for aerospace products.&nbsp;Japan’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/us-to-implement-lower-15-tariffs-on-japanese-cars-and-auto-parts-by-next-week/chw0njNRdrt">welcomed the move last week</a>, saying in a post on X that the order represented “steady implementation of the agreement reached on July 22” after months of talks.&nbsp;Tokyo has pushed hard for relief, viewing auto tariffs as a critical issue for its export-heavy economy. The auto sector accounts for Japan’s largest share of exports to the U.S., and is a major driver of employment and wage growth.As part of the broader deal, Japan pledged to create a $550 billion U.S. investment fund, procure 100 Boeing aircraft, expand purchases of American agricultural goods and defense equipment, and explore an Alaskan liquefied natural gas offtake agreement. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has cautioned that Japan could face higher duties if the investment pledge is not fulfilled.Trump’s tariffs have weighed heavily on Japanese exporters. Toyota, which previously warned of a $10 billion profit hit from levies, said the new framework provides “much-needed clarity.” Two-way trade between the U.S. and Japan totaled nearly $230 billion in 2024, with Japan running a surplus of about $70 billion.On Stocktwits, retail sentiment was ‘bullish’ for the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) with ‘normal’ message volume, while sentiment for the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) was ‘neutral’ on ‘low’ activity.So far this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPY</a> is up 13.4% and&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/QQQ">QQQ</a> has gained 16%, while&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/EWJ">EWJ</a> has climbed 22.2%, outperforming both.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

So far this year, SPY is up 13.4% and QQQ has gained 16%, while EWJ has climbed 22.2%, outperforming both. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Japan Tariff Cut Takes Effect Tuesday: US Lowers Duties On Cars, Light Trucks And Auto Parts To 15% 

The reduction stems from a Trump administration trade deal that also includes Japan’s pledge to create a $550 billion U.S. investment fund and boost purchases of American goods.

SoftBank Group Corp.’s (SFTBY) Tokyo-listed shares have seen a strong two-day surge, mirroring the buoyancy seen in Oracle stock after the Larry Ellison-founded company spoke about strong artificial intelligence (AI) momentum.The rally in SoftBank, which has a significant weighting in Japan’s Nikkei 225 average, pushed the country’s benchmark index to a new high.&nbsp;Oracle’s Nasdaq-listed stock settled Wednesday's session up nearly 36%, after Ellison and CEO Safra Catz highlighted the company’s AI opportunity in the quarterly release and during the earnings call.&nbsp;The optimism seeped down to SoftBank’s stock, an investment holding company run by Masayoshi Son that invests heavily in technology through its SoftBank Vision Funds (SVF).While speaking at SoftBank’s annual shareholder meeting held in July, Son expressed hopes to transform his company into the “world’s top platformer for ASI [artificial super intelligence] as he believed that it would be a winner-takes-all arena. “I’m all in,” he had said.Son was found alongside Ellison and OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman in late January when President Donald Trump announced a $500 billion private investment through a project dubbed Stargate to expand AI infrastructure in the U.S. over the next five years.Softbank and OpenAI are the lead partners, with the former focusing on operations and the latter on the financials. The two companies, along with Oracle and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, were named as equity partners.The AI optimism will likely lift the SoftBank stock, according to Andrew Jackson of Ortus Advisors, MarketWatch&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/softbank-shares-on-track-for-record-close-after-oracle-s-ai-contract-wins-51bbe9a8?mod=markets">said.</a>Referring to the&nbsp;surge in SoftBank’s Tokyo-listed stock on Wednesday, Jackson said, “Expect a nice bump higher for Softbank Group on this after its 7.3% move higher yesterday as investors joined the dots between this and Oracle's connection, when only months ago Masayoshi Son [SoftBank chief executive] and Larry Ellison [Oracle chairman] stood together as Trump announced the Stargate program," he wrote on SmartKarma, an investment intelligence platform.On Stocktwits, retail sentiment toward SoftBank stock remained ‘bearish’ (30/100) by late Wednesday, and the message volume was ‘low.’<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:618/53;" src="https://news.stocktwits-cdn.com/Screenshot_2025_09_11_at_1_42_50_AM_png_16cfbd7557.webp" alt="Screenshot 2025-09-11 at 1.42.50 AM.png" width="618" height="53"><figcaption>SFTBY sentiment and message volume as of 1:40 a.m. ET, Sept. 11 | source: Stocktwits</figcaption></figure>The firm reported in early August first-quarter profits that were double that of the consensus estimates, thanks to the earnings from its bets in Nvidia and its other tech portfolio that are part of the SVF.SoftBank’s stock, which trades over the counter (OTC) in the U.S., has gained 95% this year.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/slb-appl-nvda-mrk-gild-what-sparked-heavy-after-hours-trading/chwNErNRdHi">SLB, Apple, Nvidia, Merck, Gilead Sciences: What Sparked Heavy After-Hours Trading In These 5 Stocks?</a>

The SoftBank Group logo is displayed on a mobile phone with a stock graph in the background, in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on August 20, 2025. 

Oracle Surge Sends Ripple Effect To SoftBank: Analyst Sees More Gains As Investors 'Joined The Dots' On $500B Stargate AI Program

The rally in SoftBank, which has a significant weighting in Japan’s Nikkei 225 average, pushed the country’s benchmark index to a new high. 

U.S. tariffs on Japanese goods, including cars and auto parts, will be lowered by Sept. 16, easing pressure on Japan’s export-heavy economy and its auto sector.Japan’s top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/ryosei_akazawa/status/1965181980200632827">said in a post on X</a> that a U.S. Federal Register notice published on Sept. 9 formalized President Donald Trump’s executive order implementing the U.S.-Japan trade deal struck in July.The revised tariff schedule takes effect seven days from publication and applies retroactively from Aug. 7.The order lowers tariffs on Japanese cars to 15% from 27.5% and ensures that goods already facing duties above that rate, such as beef, will not face additional levies. Products previously taxed below 15% will be adjusted to that level, while commercial airplanes and parts are exempt, according to a Reuters&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-signs-order-bring-lower-japanese-auto-tariffs-into-effect-2025-09-05/">report</a>.“Finally,” Akazawa&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/ryosei_akazawa/status/1963709950670069839">wrote on X</a>, referencing months of negotiations that required 10 trips to Washington. He later told reporters Japan welcomed the order as “a steady implementation of the agreement reached on July 22.”The executive order also confirmed Japan’s pledge to invest $550 billion in U.S. projects by 2029 and to boost purchases of U.S. agricultural goods and defense equipment. A joint statement said Tokyo would procure 100 Boeing aircraft and explore an Alaskan liquefied natural gas offtake agreement.Trump’s levies on global shipments have weighed heavily on Japanese exporters. Toyota, which has warned of a $10 billion profit hit from tariffs, said the new framework “provides much-needed clarity.”&nbsp;Two-way trade between the U.S. and Japan reached nearly $230 billion in 2024, with Japan running a surplus of about $70 billion.On Stocktwits, retail sentiment was 'bullish' on the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and 'extremely bearish' on the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), both with 'normal' message volumes, while sentiment on the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) was 'neutral' amid 'high' message volume.So far this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPY</a> is up 11.4% and&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/QQQ">QQQ</a> has gained 13.5%, while&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/EWJ">EWJ</a> has climbed 21.6%, outperforming both U.S. benchmarks.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

Japan's Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Ryosei Akazawa attends a budget committee meeting of an extraordinary session at the Lower House of the Diet on August 4 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

US To Implement Lower 15% Tariffs On Japanese Cars And Auto Parts By Next Week 

The order, formalised in a U.S. Federal Register notice, also confirms Tokyo’s $550 billion U.S. investment package and new purchases of American agricultural products and defense equipment.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who was instrumental in clinching the historical tariff deal with the U.S. after protracted negotiations, has called it quits. The move was expected as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/japan-s-ruling-party-loses-grip-as-trump-tariff-deadline-looms/ch8qvTDR5A4">lost its majority</a> in the lower house in an election held in July.With that, the LDP was without a majority in either house for the first time.Japanese public broadcaster NHK&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250907_11/">reported</a> on Sunday that Ishiba conveyed his decision to step down at a press conference and clarified that he would not run in the LDP’s upcoming special leadership contest.The Japanese stock market has reacted broadly positively to the development. On Monday, the Nikkei 225 average climbed nearly 1.50% at last check.The&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/EWJ">iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)</a>, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks an index comprising Japanese stocks, has rallied 19% year-to-date (YTD).&nbsp; In comparison, the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (SPY)</a>, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) and the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/QQQ">Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)</a> have gained 11.10% and 12.98%, respectively, for the year.On the other hand, the Japanese yen weakened significantly against the U.S. dollar, with the former’s retreat attributed to expectations that the Bank of Japan may not raise interest rates amid the uncertainty.According to a Nikkei&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/markets/equities/japan-stocks-near-fresh-intraday-high-as-pm-ishiba-resigns">report</a>, Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory analyst Ryotaro Sawada said, “With rising political uncertainty, the market is starting to doubt whether the Bank of Japan will be able to raise rates this year.”The next rate-setting meeting of the central bank is scheduled for Sept. 18-19.&nbsp;The NHK report stated that Ishiba’s decision to step down was due to a sense of closure, as the U.S.-Japanese trade deal is now officially concluded, with U.S. President Donald Trump signing an&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/trump-signs-executive-order-to-seal-japan-trade-pact/chw4vxJRdp3">executive order</a> to that effect last week. Apart from confirming the 15% tariff rate, the deal also reduced the auto tariffs to the baseline rate from the 27.5% discussed previously.The outgoing prime minister felt that it was his responsibility to close the deal as he viewed the tariff imbroglio as a “national crisis.”President Trump, meanwhile, reacted to the development. Talking to reporters in Washington after heading back from watching the U.S. Open finals in New York, the U.S. president said, “I was surprised, because I knew him, I liked him, and he's just now stepping down,” Japanese National Daily Mainichi reported. "I found him to be a very nice man, actually. We dealt very well together."Before his departure to the sporting event, when he was asked about the leadership change in Japan, he professed no knowledge of it.&nbsp;A U.S. State Department official reportedly told Kyodo&nbsp;News that regardless of Ishiba’s decision, the U.S. looks forward to “continuing our work with the government of Japan.”Trump was non-committal when a reporter asked whether he would visit Japan this fall, along with South Korea, which hosts this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meet.Looking ahead, the LDP is&nbsp;considering how to choose its new leader, with former party Secretary General Motegi Toshimitsu reportedly throwing his hat in the ring, according to a separate NHK&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250908_06/">report</a>. The party is discussing the format and schedule of a leadership race, it added.For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/economist-flags-most-disconcerting-jobs-data-signal-hinting-at-us-recession/chwWkgQRdqC">Economist Who Predicted 2008 Financial Crisis Flags ‘Most Disconcerting’ Jobs Data Signal Hinting At US Recession</a>

Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's Prime Minister, attends a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office on September 06, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.

Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba Opts To Step Down As Tariff Deal With US Brings Closure To ‘National Crisis’ — Trump Says ‘I’m Surprised’

The outgoing prime minister believed it was his responsibility to resolve the tariff issue, as he viewed it as a “national crisis.”

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to implement the U.S.-Japan trade deal that was struck in late July, as both parties ironed out the wrinkles.&nbsp;A White House statement said, “Under the Agreement, the United States will apply a baseline 15 percent tariff on nearly all Japanese imports entering the United States, alongside separate sector-specific treatment for automobiles and automobile parts; aerospace products; generic pharmaceuticals; and natural resources that are not naturally available or produced in the United States.”The new tariff framework, along with expanded U.S. exports and investment-driven production, will help reduce the country’s trade deficit with Japan, it added.Trump sought Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to launch a procedure to modify the auto tariffs to 15% from 27.5% previously, within seven days of the duty cut being published in the Federal Register.Japan has agreed to expeditiously implement a 75% increase in the procurement of American rice and also purchase other agricultural products, including corn, soybeans, fertilizer, bioethanol, and others, totaling $8 billion per year.The executive order also firms up the $500 billion Japanese investment in the U.S., which is expected to generate additional jobs and expand domestic manufacturing.Following the formalization of the trade deal, the Japanese stocks started Friday’s session solidly higher, with the upside coming despite the yen’s strengthening.&nbsp; Auto stocks listed on the Japanese stock exchange opened notably higher but have since then come off the highs.The&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/EWJ">iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)</a>, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the investment results of the MSCI Japan Index, was seen up nearly half a percent in overnight trading. The ETF has gained over 18% so far this year compared to the 11.42% rise for the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/SPY">SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (SPY)</a> and the 12.81% advance by the&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/symbol/QQQ">Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)</a>.The formal ratification of the U.S.-Japan trade deal came after several bickerings. In late August, Japan’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa canceled his visit to the U.S., with the country clarifying that specific points required further technical discussion and that, therefore, discussions were to continue at the administrative level.It also comes at a time when Trump is fighting a legal battle to establish the legitimacy of his move to implement tariffs under the “International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/ray-dalio-warns-fed-rate-cut-in-september-could-trigger-stagflation-risk/chwdgimRdpP">Ray Dalio Warns Fed Rate Cut In September Could Trigger Stagflation Risk</a>

U.S. President Donald Trump attends an executive order signing event in the Oval Office of the White House on March 31, 2025, in Washington, DC. 

Trump Signs Executive Order To Seal Japan Trade Pact, Slashes Auto Tariffs To 15%

Japan has agreed to expeditiously implement a 75% increase in the procurement of American rice and also purchase other agricultural products.

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