Japanese Stocks Surge as SoftBank Jumps 20%

2026-05-21 06:57 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

The Nikkei 5225 Index rallied 3.14% to close at 61,684 while the broader Topix Index gained 1.64% to 3,854 on Thursday, as Japanese equities rebounded from earlier weekly losses amid renewed optimism surrounding artificial intelligence-related demand.

Strong earnings from Nidia boosted sentiment across global technology markets, while news that Samsung Electronics had averted a potential labor strike further supported semiconductor-linked shares.

In Japan, SoftBank Group led the rally, soaring nearly 20% following reports that OpenAI is preparing for a public listing.

Other technology-related stocks also posted strong gains, including Kioxia Holdings (7.9%), Fujikura (4.8%), Advantest (4.4%), Ibiden (14.3%) and Tokyo Electron (5.9%).

On the geopolitical front, President Donald Trump said the US was in the final stages of negotiations with Iran, fueling hopes that the strategically important Strait of Hormuz could soon reopen.



News Stream
Japanese Shares Tumble on Tech Rout
The Nikkei 225 Index plunged 4.03% to close at 64,140 on Friday, while the broader Topix Index fell 2.72% to 3,919, with both benchmarks finishing at their lowest levels in more than a month as a global selloff in semiconductor stocks accelerated amid mounting concerns over heavy AI-related spending and stretched valuations. Investor sentiment was also weighed down by the escalating conflict between the US and Iran, which drove oil prices higher and heightened inflationary and interest rate concerns. Technology and AI-related shares led the declines in Japan, with Kioxia Holdings tumbling 16.1%, Tokyo Electron sliding 8.1%, SoftBank Group losing 9%, Advantest falling 7.2%, and Taiyo Yuden dropping 11.9%. For the week, the Nikkei 225 and Topix indexes recorded losses of 6.4% and 2.9%, respectively.
2026-07-17
The Nikkei 225 Index Closes 4.73% Lower
The Nikkei 225 Index dropped 3161 points or 4.73 percent on Friday to close at 63674 points. Losses were led by Sumco (-15.17%), Screen Holdings (-13.05%) and Taiyo Yuden (-12.53%).
2026-07-17
Japanese Shares Track Wall Street Lower
The Nikkei 225 Index fell 2.8% to below 65,000, while the broader Topix Index declined 1.3% to 3,975 on Friday, extending losses from the previous session and following Wall Street lower after a sharp selloff in semiconductor stocks. The weakness came as investors increasingly questioned whether the elevated valuations of AI-related chipmakers remain justified by the industry's ambitious growth expectations. Market sentiment was also pressured by the escalating conflict between the US and Iran, which pushed oil prices higher and kept inflationary pressures and interest rate concerns in focus. Technology and AI-related stocks led the declines in Japan, with Kioxia Holdings plunging 15%, Tokyo Electron falling 4.5%, SoftBank Group losing 6.3%, Advantest dropping 5.9%, and Murata Manufacturing sliding 7.7%. The Nikkei 225 and Topix indexes are now on track to post weekly losses of nearly 6% and 2%, respectively.
2026-07-17