The Nikkei 225 Index rose 1% to above 57,000 while the broader Topix Index gained 1% to 3,800 on Wednesday, recouping losses from earlier in the week as Japan reported strong export growth. Exports surged 16.8% year-on-year in January, marking the fastest expansion in nearly four years, driven by strong shipments to Asia and Western Europe. Exports to China, Japan’s largest trading partner, jumped 32%, rebounding from a modest 5.6% increase in December that had been weighed down by diplomatic tensions. Separately, Japan announced plans to invest $36 billion in US oil, gas, and critical mineral projects as part of its $550 billion commitment under a trade agreement with US President Donald Trump. Financials led the rally, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group rising between 2.1% and 3.2%. Select technology and AI-related names also advanced, including Tokyo Electron (+3%), Fujikura (+3.2%), and Lasertec (+1.7%).