Japan’s benchmark Nikkei index surged to a record high on Wednesday, driven by strong gains in semiconductor-related shares as investor enthusiasm around artificial intelligence continued to fuel buying in technology stocks.
The NI225 climbed 1.25% to 65,811.78 in afternoon trading after touching an all-time intraday high of 66,428.81 earlier in the session. Meanwhile, the broader TOPIX edged up 0.15% to 3,944.19.
Technology and chip-equipment makers led the rally, mirroring gains seen overnight on Wall Street where AI optimism pushed the Nasdaq and S&P 500 to record closes.
Shares of Tokyo Electron jumped more than 5%, while Advantest also gained over 5% as investors poured money into AI-linked semiconductor plays.
Market strategists said investor capital is increasingly concentrated in high-growth technology shares while traditional value sectors lag behind.
However, not all AI-related companies advanced. SoftBank Group fell 4.3%, while chip designer Socionext dropped 5.8%, making it the biggest loser on the Nikkei.
Financial and real estate shares also came under pressure. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group declined 0.49%, while Mizuho Financial Group lost 0.95%.
The banking sector index fell 0.76%, while the real estate sector posted the sharpest decline among industry groups, sliding 1.48%.
Analysts said the Japanese market closely tracked U.S. trading patterns, where semiconductor stocks rallied despite lingering geopolitical concerns surrounding Middle East tensions and recent U.S. military actions involving Iran.
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange prime market, roughly 44% of listed stocks advanced, while 52% declined and 3% remained unchanged.
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