Nikkei 225 Rises 0.1%, Topix Falls 0.6% at Midday

The split between the Nikkei's slight gain and the Topix's sharper decline signals that large-cap strength is masking broader weakness across the market. This divergence typically points to rotation into a few heavyweight names rather than broad-based buying, which can leave the index vulnerable if those leaders falter. The key watch is whether this narrow leadership persists into the close or if selling pressure broadens, as that would indicate a shift in risk appetite among domestic equities.