The Nikkei 225 extended its gains in Tokyo trading on the morning of the 18th, as buying spread to AI-related stocks against a backdrop of higher U.S. semiconductor shares, with the morning session closing at approximately ¥66,662.
The Nikkei 225 extended its gains in the Tokyo stock market on the morning of the 18th, ending the session ¥525.86 higher than the previous day at ¥66,662.11. Advantest, Tokyo Electron and SoftBank Group lifted the index by approximately ¥600, while value stocks that had remained firm until recently saw notable selling.
In the previous day's U.S. stock market, the SOX Index closed 3.14% higher. Semiconductor stocks were supported by reports that Nvidia's CEO had struck an upbeat tone, saying the company would sell twice as many semiconductors next year as this year, and that the CEO of Arm Holdings had also expressed confidence.
Domestic long-term interest rates fell 0.045% to 2.945%, as expectations that central banks in the U.S. and Europe would continue raising interest rates to contain inflation prompted buying of bonds. Overall, stock picking was mixed, with high-PER stocks such as semiconductor-related shares providing support.
Stocks other than semiconductor-related issues remained weak. Value stocks that had been bought through the previous day came under selling pressure, with decliners notably outnumbering advancers on the TSE Prime Market, at 1,115 versus 387. Ibiden, Kioxia and Lasertec were among the advancers, while Fast Retailing, KDDI and Recruit declined.