The Nikkei 225 slipped 121 points, or 0.2%, to 50,571 in Monday morning trade, reversing prior-session gains as selling pressure weighed on consumer durables, electronic technology, and services stocks. Meantime, the broader Topix was little changed near 3,426 after a modest early rise. Investors began the final trading week of the year guardedly, with sentiment dampened by the Bank of Japan’s December meeting summary, which showed several board members signaling the need for further rate hikes. Weak November data added pressure, including a sharper-than-expected fall in Japan’s industrial output, easing retail sales, and the jobless rate stuck at its highest since July 2024. Still, firmer U.S. futures capped losses after the S&P 500 closed at a record high Friday and logged weekly gains. Meanwhile, Japan’s cabinet approved a record FY2026 budget last week, to be submitted to the Diet in January. Early laggards included Kioxia (-2.3%), Otsuka (-1.6%), Kao (-1.3%), and TDK (-1.0%).