On Friday, Japanese equities experienced a downturn as geopolitical tensions, particularly renewed clashes between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, weighed on investor sentiment. The Nikkei 225 Index decreased by 0.19%, closing at 62,713, while the broader Topix Index fell 0.29% to 3,829. Despite this decline, both indices achieved notable weekly gains, with the Nikkei rising 5.38% and the Topix gaining 2.7%, primarily driven by strength in technology and AI-related stocks. In corporate news, Sony announced a share buyback plan worth up to 500 billion yen and projected an 11% increase in operating profit for the fiscal year 2027, fueled by growth in its music and image sensor divisions. Conversely, Nintendo plans to raise the retail price of its upcoming Switch 2 due to lower sales expectations amid a memory chip shortage. Additionally, Toyota reported a staggering 49% decrease in fourth-quarter operating profit, largely impacted by US tariffs.