Group 1: Trade Agreement Impact - The US and Japan have reached a trade agreement, reducing the reciprocal tariff rate from 25% to 15%, with Japan committing to invest $550 billion in the US and opening its market for agricultural products [2][4][5] - Japanese automotive stocks surged, with Mitsubishi Motors and Mazda both rising over 10%, while Honda and Nissan increased by more than 7% [2][3] - The agreement is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the US, with Trump claiming that the US will receive 90% of the profits from Japan's investment [4] Group 2: Japanese Market Reaction - The Nikkei 225 index rose over 2% following the announcement of the trade agreement, reflecting positive market sentiment [1][2] - Specific automotive stocks showed significant gains, with Mazda at 12.89%, Mitsubishi at 12.10%, and Toyota at 10.05% [3] Group 3: South Korean Market Response - The South Korean KOSPI index increased by 0.58%, reaching 3188.42 points, although concerns about the US's tariff policies are affecting business confidence [7][8] - A survey indicated that the business sentiment index for South Korean companies remains pessimistic, with a reading of 92.6, indicating more pessimists than optimists [9]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent trade agreement between the United States and Japan, which has positively impacted the Japanese stock market, particularly the Nikkei 225 index, which rose over 2% following the announcement [1][3]. Group 1: Trade Agreement Details - President Trump announced that the U.S. and Japan have reached a significant trade agreement, reducing the reciprocal tariff rate from 25% to 15% [5][6]. - Japan is set to invest $550 billion in the U.S. and will open its market for various agricultural products, including rice [5][6]. - The agreement is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the U.S. and is described by Trump as potentially the largest trade deal in history [6][7]. Group 2: Market Reactions - Following the trade agreement news, the Nikkei 225 index opened high and increased by 2.07%, reaching 40,596.57 points [3][4]. - Japanese automotive stocks saw significant gains, with Mazda and Mitsubishi both rising over 10%, and Honda and Nissan increasing by over 7% [4][5]. - The trading volume for Toyota was so high that trading was temporarily halted due to excessive buy orders [4]. Group 3: South Korean Market Response - The South Korean KOSPI index rose by 0.58% to 3,188.42 points, but the outlook remains cautious due to the impending U.S. tariffs [9]. - A survey indicated that South Korean companies are pessimistic about their prospects for August, with a Business Survey Index (BSI) of 92.6, indicating more pessimists than optimists [9]. - The manufacturing sector's BSI is at 87.1, reflecting 17 months of negative sentiment, while only the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries show optimism [9].