The Nikkei Average in the Tokyo market on 10/19 briefly fell into the ¥63,000 range. Concerns about recouping AI-related investment and uncertainty over the situation in the Middle East were cited as the backdrop.
At the start of trading after the weekend, the Nikkei Average fell immediately, with the decline exceeding ¥1,400 in the morning and briefly taking the index below the ¥63,000 range. Market participants said concerns about investment in AI-related companies, which had contributed to the previous week's sharp decline, remained.
Following the broad decline in major stock indexes in U.S. markets the previous week, selling in Japan centered on IT, AI-related, and semiconductor stocks. Investors were said to be slowing their activity because of concerns about the risk of recouping funds invested in AI-related businesses.
The prolonged situation in the Middle East was also cited as a concern. WTI futures prices in the New York crude oil market had again risen above $100 per barrel, adding to uncertainty. These factors were reported to be affecting investor sentiment.
According to ANN reports, future market movements may fluctuate depending on the prospects for recouping AI investment and developments in the Middle East. The information was reported as breaking news on the program.