The Nikkei 225 Index Closes 3.78% Higher

The Nikkei 225 Index gained 2338 points or 3.78 percent on Friday to close at 64206 points. Gains were led by Sumco (17.52%), Advantest (15.66%) and Mitsui Kinzoku (14.63%).

Asian equity markets moved higher on Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street overnight as a global rally in semiconductor stocks and renewed optimism over the artificial intelligence trade lifted investor sentiment. Confidence was boosted by strong earnings from Microsoft and Amazon, reinforcing expectations for continued hyperscaler investment and resilient AI-related demand. South Korea’s KOSPI Composite Index surged more than 15%, with SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics each soaring over 20%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index climbed 5%. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged at 1%, in line with expectations, keeping borrowing costs at their highest level since September 1995 following a 25-basis-point rate hike in June.

The Nikkei 225 Index jumped 4.03% to close at 64,362 on Friday, extending the previous session’s gains and tracking Wall Street higher amid a global rally in semiconductor stocks and renewed optimism surrounding the artificial intelligence sector. Investor sentiment was lifted by strong earnings from Microsoft and Amazon, whose shares surged after reinforcing confidence in hyperscaler investment and sustained AI-driven demand. In Japan, Advantest soared another 15.7% after raising its annual operating profit forecast by 35%, fueled by robust demand for AI-related chip-testing equipment. Other major technology gainers included Tokyo Electron (6.2%), Kioxia Holdings (2.9%), SoftBank Group (14.2%), Fujikura (12%), and Lasertec (13.7%). Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan left its policy rate unchanged at 1%, in line with expectations, keeping borrowing costs at their highest level since September 1995 following a 25-basis-point rate hike in June.