{"id":62562,"date":"2026-05-31T21:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T01:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/nikkei-hits-historic-67000-milestone-amid-tech-surge-powell-warns-on-fed-independence\/62562\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T21:38:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T01:38:20","slug":"nikkei-hits-historic-67000-milestone-amid-tech-surge-powell-warns-on-fed-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/nikkei-hits-historic-67000-milestone-amid-tech-surge-powell-warns-on-fed-independence\/62562\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikkei Hits Historic 67,000 Milestone Amid Tech Surge; Powell Warns on Fed Independence"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/nikkei-hits-historic-67000-milestone-amid-tech-surge-powell-warns-on-fed-independence\/62562\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/nikkei-hits-historic-67000-milestone-amid-tech-surge-powell-warns-on-fed-independence\/62562\/#Asian_Markets_Hit_Record_Milestones\" >Asian Markets Hit Record Milestones<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/nikkei-hits-historic-67000-milestone-amid-tech-surge-powell-warns-on-fed-independence\/62562\/#Tech_Sector_Surges_on_EV_and_AI_Developments\" >Tech Sector Surges on EV and AI Developments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/nikkei-hits-historic-67000-milestone-amid-tech-surge-powell-warns-on-fed-independence\/62562\/#Powell_Defends_Federal_Reserve_Autonomy\" >Powell Defends Federal Reserve Autonomy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/nikkei-hits-historic-67000-milestone-amid-tech-surge-powell-warns-on-fed-independence\/62562\/#Currency_and_Fixed_Income_Volatility\" >Currency and Fixed Income Volatility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/nikkei-hits-historic-67000-milestone-amid-tech-surge-powell-warns-on-fed-independence\/62562\/#Geopolitics_Iran_Deal_and_Global_Tensions\" >Geopolitics: Iran Deal and Global Tensions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Nikkei 225 reached an all-time high, crossing the 67,000 mark for the first time<\/strong> as manufacturing PMIs across Asia signaled continued expansion.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Former Fed Chair Jerome Powell issued a stark warning on central bank independence<\/strong>, stating that presidential interference in personnel would &quot;destroy credibility&quot; with the public.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tech giants Samsung Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/005930\">005930<\/a>) and LG Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/066570\">066570<\/a>) saw massive rallies<\/strong>, with the latter surging <strong>28%<\/strong> amid strong buying interest.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The PBOC fixed the Yuan at its highest level since February 2023<\/strong>, setting the midpoint at <strong>6.8167 per dollar<\/strong> despite a previous close of 6.7663.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Geopolitical focus shifts to U.S.-Iran nuclear talks<\/strong>, with reports of a potential deal limiting <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/gold\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"gold price today\">gold<\/a>\u2019s upside as bullion trades near <strong>$4,535\/oz<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Asian_Markets_Hit_Record_Milestones\"><\/span>Asian Markets Hit Record Milestones<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Nikkei 225<\/strong> advanced <strong>1%<\/strong> in early Monday trading, successfully breaching the <strong>67,000<\/strong> threshold for the first time in history. This upward momentum was bolstered by <strong>Japan\u2019s S&amp;P Global Manufacturing PMI<\/strong>, which remained in expansionary territory at <strong>54.5<\/strong> for May.<\/p>\n<p>Regional manufacturing strength extended beyond Japan, with <strong>Taiwan\u2019s PMI<\/strong> climbing to <strong>56.1<\/strong> and <strong>South Korea\u2019s PMI<\/strong> rising to <strong>54.8<\/strong>. These figures suggest a robust recovery in regional industrial output, fueling investor appetite for equities across the APAC region.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tech_Sector_Surges_on_EV_and_AI_Developments\"><\/span>Tech Sector Surges on EV and AI Developments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>LG Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/066570\">066570<\/a>)<\/strong> dominated market headlines with a staggering <strong>28% rally<\/strong>, while <strong>Samsung Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/005930\">005930<\/a>)<\/strong> gained <strong>5.5%<\/strong>. The sector is benefiting from a convergence of AI and automotive demand; <strong>Xiaomi (<a href=\"\/stock\/1810\">1810<\/a>)<\/strong> announced it delivered over <strong>30,000 electric vehicles<\/strong> in May alone.<\/p>\n<p>In a significant strategic move, <strong>Japan<\/strong> announced it will join the U.S.-led <strong>Genesis Mission<\/strong>, an AI-driven scientific initiative. The Japanese government plans to commit <strong>$500 million<\/strong> over five years to the project, marking it as the first international partner in the AI breakthrough program.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Powell_Defends_Federal_Reserve_Autonomy\"><\/span>Powell Defends Federal Reserve Autonomy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Former Federal Reserve Chair <strong>Jerome Powell<\/strong> used a speech at the Kennedy Library Foundation to caution against the politicization of monetary policy. Powell emphasized that the <strong>Fed\u2019s legal protections<\/strong> are essential to shield the economy from political interference, arguing that a president\u2019s ability to remove officials over policy disagreements would <strong>undermine economic stability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Powell\u2019s remarks come at a time when democratic institutions are being &quot;put to the test.&quot; While he avoided direct commentary on current interest rates, his focus on the <strong>rule of law<\/strong> and <strong>public trust<\/strong> suggests growing concern over the future of the central bank&#39;s independence.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Currency_and_Fixed_Income_Volatility\"><\/span>Currency and Fixed Income Volatility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>People&#39;s Bank of China (PBOC)<\/strong> signaled strength by fixing the yuan&#39;s daily reference rate at <strong>6.8167<\/strong>, its highest level in over three years. This move comes as the <strong>Australian Dollar<\/strong> faces potential pullback risks against the Greenback, and the <strong>Yen<\/strong> continues to consolidate ahead of a highly anticipated speech by <strong>BOJ Governor Ueda<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In the fixed income market, <strong>Japanese Government Bond (JGB)<\/strong> yields moved higher across the curve. The <strong>10-year JGB yield<\/strong> climbed to <strong>2.675%<\/strong>, while the <strong>30-year yield<\/strong> reached <strong>3.93%<\/strong>, as investors reacted to prolonged U.S.-Iran negotiations and shifting global inflation expectations.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitics_Iran_Deal_and_Global_Tensions\"><\/span>Geopolitics: Iran Deal and Global Tensions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Donald Trump<\/strong> confirmed that a proposed deal with <strong>Iran<\/strong> is primarily centered on Tehran\u2019s nuclear program, including &quot;firm commitments&quot; that the country will not possess nuclear arms. However, <strong>Iran<\/strong> has asserted its right to impose environmental fees on vessels in the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, defending the charges as legitimate levies rather than transit tolls.<\/p>\n<p>The uncertainty surrounding these negotiations has kept <strong>Gold<\/strong> prices under pressure, with the metal slipping to <strong>$4,535\/oz<\/strong>. While safe-haven demand remains supported by tensions in <strong>Lebanon<\/strong>, hopes for a deal that eases energy disruptions are currently limiting the upside for bullion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways The Nikkei 225 reached an all-time high, crossing the 67,000 mark for the first time as manufacturing PMIs 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