It’s the first time the Nikkei has entered a bear market since August, when an unexpected rate hike by the Bank of Japan triggered a widespread market rout.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average slid into a bear market over fears of a widening trade war, while the government sought to pull together a wide-ranging deal to negotiate with Washington on US tariffs.
The blue-chip index closed 7.8% down on Monday, taking its loss from its December peak to 23%. The broader Topix index also sank, with electronics makers and banks weighing on the benchmark as Japan’s economic outlook darkened.
