The Nikkei Stock Average fell in the morning session, at one point down more than ¥1,400 and trading in the low ¥63,900 range. Declines in semiconductor- and AI-related stocks weighed on the market.
At the morning open, the Nikkei Stock Average was down more than ¥1,400 from the previous weekend and trading in the low ¥63,900 range. It briefly fell below ¥64,000 during trading, affected by the decline in the SOX Index and weakness in the Nasdaq.
Selling was heavy in AI- and semiconductor-related stocks, including companies involved in AI infrastructure, while a rise in CoreWeave's bond yields also weakened investor sentiment. Crude oil prices continued to rise sharply, and risk aversion intensified as long-term U.S. interest rates remained in the 5% range.
While semiconductor stocks continued to decline, buying was seen at times in domestic-demand defensive stocks such as retail and land transportation, resulting in divergent price movements across the market.