The Nikkei 225 fell sharply in the Tokyo market, closing at ¥62,907, down ¥1,713 from the previous day. Trading began at ¥64,539, the midday close was ¥63,917, and the market ultimately closed at the session low of ¥62,907.
In the Tokyo market, the Nikkei 225 opened at ¥64,539 and moved higher at times during the morning, but concerns over the situation in the Middle East and selling of AI- and semiconductor-related stocks sent it sharply lower. It had fallen to ¥63,917 by the midday close, and selling intensified in the afternoon, with the index ultimately closing at the session low of ¥62,907.
Among individual stocks, SHIFT rose 8.6% to ¥1,147, marking a sharp rebound after 3 trading days, while JX Metals fell 4.4% to ¥2,917 and Nishimatsuya Chain declined 1.0% to ¥1,901. Sony Group maintained its rebound, rising 1.7% to ¥4,081, while Terra Drone fell sharply by 9.0% to ¥5,770.
One factor behind Terra Drone's decline was a Reuters report dated 21st stating that Russia's Foreign Ministry had indicated that it could regard the company's sales of drones to Ukraine as "hostile." Selling of AI-related stocks also weighed on the market, and risk aversion is believed to have spread across the broader market as a result.
For the following day's market, attention is expected to focus on the earnings announcement from DISCO, a semiconductor precision-processing equipment maker, as well as earnings from defense-related companies in the US market. Reports indicate that AI- and semiconductor-related stocks may remain weak.