Against the backdrop of the previous day's reaction in U.S. stocks, the Nikkei 225 fell sharply for a second straight session. Declines in semiconductor and AI-related stocks pushed the index lower; although the market opened slightly higher, the decline widened into the afternoon session.
The U.S. stock market opened higher the previous day, and the Nikkei 225 initially extended its gains after opening. However, following declines in U.S. semiconductor stocks, selling spread to high-priced domestic semiconductor-related and AI-related stocks, and the index gradually turned lower.
At the close, the Nikkei 225 stood at ¥61,077.90, down ¥1,110.73 from the previous day. Trading volume was 3.95805 billion shares and trading value was ¥11.785 trillion. By sector, transport equipment, real estate and rubber products rose, while nonferrous metals, mining and marine transportation declined.
While many stocks rose, the proportion of declining stocks was high and weighed on the index. Moves in some large-cap stocks influenced the market as a whole, and prices weakened toward the close.
Related articles identify the performance of semiconductor and AI-related stocks and the extent of rebounds in domestic-demand and automotive stocks as key market points following the Nikkei 225's sharp decline.