The Nikkei 225 fell sharply again, with selling in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and AI-related stocks weighing on the market despite the rebound in U.S. equities the previous day. The closing level was below that of approximately three months earlier. The index briefly returned to positive territory during the day but ultimately widened its losses before closing.
U.S. equities rose the previous day as technology stocks attracted buying following SpaceX's earnings and improved outlook for AI-related businesses, while lower crude oil prices also supported the market. Tokyo stocks initially benefited from this trend, but losses in the Nikkei 225 widened after semiconductor manufacturing equipment and AI-related stocks fell sharply.
Toward the close, the Nikkei 225 stood at ¥62,907.84, down ¥1,713.40 from the previous day. Trading volume on the TSE Prime Market was approximately 2.19167 billion shares, and trading value was approximately ¥7.0569 trillion. By sector, insurance and services stocks rose, while nonferrous metals, glass and ceramics products, and banks declined.
Among individual stocks, Recruit Holdings, Trend, BayCurrent, Sony Group and Nitto Denko rose, while Advantech, Tokyo Electron, SoftBank Group and FANUC fell. Movements in major stocks had a significant impact on the broader market.
The day's market overview indicated that declines in Asian equities weighed on investor sentiment, while semiconductor and AI-related stocks remained the market's focus throughout the day.