Nomura Posts Record Q1 Profits on Volatile Markets

Nomura Holdings, Japan's largest investment bank and brokerage, reported a 39% surge in first-quarter net income to 145.6 billion yen (US$890.74 million) due to volatile markets and record high stock prices.

The company's trading business benefited from the war in the Middle East disrupting global energy flows and supply chains, while investor excitement over AI pushed the benchmark Nikkei to a record high in June.

Nomura's chief financial officer, Hiroyuki Moriuchi, expressed confidence in a profitable dealmaking environment, citing a growing pipeline of financing deals and strong corporate activity.

The company's investment banking revenue reached 50.4 billion yen, a record for the first quarter, while its wealth management business saw income before taxes grow to 71.1 billion yen, an 83% increase from the previous year.