Japan's Stock Market Flat as Investors Weigh Yen and BOJ Rate Hike

Japan's stock market treaded water on Tuesday as investors weighed upbeat domestic data against a stronger yen and growing expectations of a Bank of Japan interest rate hike next week.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 advanced 0.31% to 66,608.42 in early trading, while the broader Topix slipped 0.51% to 4,104.89.

Revised figures showed that Japan's second-quarter gross domestic product expanded faster than initially reported, and real wages rose 2.4% in July from a year earlier, the biggest increase since May 2021.

The yen continued its climb, reaching 153.37 per dollar, the strongest since February.