Global markets kicked off the week with a surge in optimism after Japan’s election results triggered what many traders are calling the “Takaichi Effect.”
The rally followed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s decisive victory and her pledge to roll out a massive $135 billion stimulus package aimed at infrastructure spending and tax cuts. Investors quickly interpreted the plan as a potential turning point for Japan’s long-stagnant economy, sending the Nikkei 225 soaring to fresh record highs and setting the tone for a broad global risk-on move.
The momentum didn’t stay confined to Japanese equities. Markets across regions began reacting to the prospect of renewed fiscal expansion in one of the world’s largest economies. U.S. futures opened higher, with the Dow Jones already trading above the 50,000 mark and talk of even more ambitious targets circulating among bullish analysts.
Interestingly, the rally wasn’t limited to stocks. Traditional and alternative safe-haven assets also joined the move. Gold surged to record territory above the $5,000 level, while Bitcoin briefly climbed toward $72,000 before stabilizing above $70,000 during Asian trading hours. The simultaneous rise in equities, gold, and Bitcoin points to a broader shift in global liquidity expectations, rather than a simple rotation into or out of risk assets.
Political signals added to the momentum. U.S. leaders congratulated Japan’s new administration and framed the stimulus as a positive development for global growth, further boosting investor confidence. The coordinated tone from policymakers helped reinforce the idea that fiscal expansion could support markets worldwide.
The so-called “#Takaichi Trade” now reflects a renewed appetite for both growth assets and alternative stores of value. With fresh stimulus on the table and liquidity expectations rising, capital appears to be flowing into equities, crypto, and commodities at the same time.
