Japan’s Nikkei surpasses 1989 all-time high on robust corporate earnings, investor-friendly measures

Japan’s Nikkei 225 hit a record high on Thursday as robust corporate profitability and steps aimed at boosting investor returns fuel a blistering rally in Japanese equities this year.

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The central bank believes wage increments would translate into a more meaningful spiral, encouraging consumers to spend.

But prolonged high inflation rates have hit domestic consumption — a key reason why Japan’s GDP shrank for a second consecutive quarter, confounding analysts that had expected a small expansion in Japan’s economy. It also meant that Japan ceded its place as the world’s third-largest economy to Germany.