The Nikkei 225 opened the afternoon session ¥1,293 above the morning session's level. Buying continued in major semiconductor and AI-related stocks, with gains broadening from Advantest and Recruit Holdings.
The Nikkei 225 opened at ¥66,900.16, up ¥1,293.45 from the previous day. Although it pared its gains slightly from the morning close, buying remained dominant. Nikkei 225 futures traded in a broadly range-bound manner during the lunch break, and buying was still dominant at the start of the afternoon session.
In addition to major semiconductor and AI-related stocks, Recruit Holdings, whose earnings were well received, helped push the index higher. Shortly after the afternoon session opened, the index briefly recovered to around ¥67,000, with buying momentum continuing broadly across the market.
Among the stocks with the highest trading value, Fujikura, Advantest, Furukawa Electric, Ibiden, Recruit Holdings, Tokyo Electron, Lasertec and Disco rose. Mitsui Mining & Smelting, by contrast, posted a notable decline. By sector, services, precision instruments and nonferrous metals stood out for their gains.
The rise in stocks including Advantest and Recruit Holdings was a key factor supporting the day's market move, while trends in semiconductor and AI-related stocks increased their contribution to the broader market.