【↓】Nikkei Average: Closed lower for 3 straight days, with selling focused on AI and semiconductor stocks (26 October)

Tokyo stocks came under stronger risk-off pressure this week against the backdrop of weakness in U.S. markets at the end of the previous week and higher crude oil prices. The Nikkei Average opened lower in the morning, then briefly moved into positive territory, led by futures, before retreating again and seeing selling revive into the afternoon session. It closed down more than ¥500. Sharp declines in New York markets and higher crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment, with selling particularly evident in AI-related stocks.

Among individual stocks with company-specific catalysts, INPEX, テラドローン, 菊池製作所, メディパルホールディングス and 三井海洋開発 attracted attention amid concerns over inflationary pressures and a worsening supply-demand outlook, while GMOインターネットグループ and メルカリ suffered substantial declines. In terms of their contributions to the Nikkei Average, positive contributions were limited to some of the top-ranked stocks, while the index fell under the influence of stocks making large negative contributions. On the TSE Prime Market, 818 stocks rose and 686 fell, with selling dominant overall.

■Today's key points: The Nikkei Average fell for the 3rd straight day, closing at its afternoon low after a decline of about ¥500. The rise in inflationary pressure from surging crude oil futures and the decline in the NY Dow weighed on market sentiment. As investors adopted a wait-and-see stance ahead of central bank policy meetings in Japan, the United States and Europe, some non-AI stocks attracted buying, and advancers accounted for more than half of all stocks.

○The Nikkei Average closed today at ¥62,189.65, down ¥503.51, or 0.80%, from the previous day. TOPIX stood at 3,972.98 points, slightly higher. Trading volume was approximately 2.12782 billion shares. On the TSE Prime Market, 818 stocks rose and 686 fell. The TSE Growth 250 rose 8.89 points.