In brief
On Friday morning, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 slipped 1,867.61 points – a 2.89% fall – while the broader Topix index dropped 58.54 points, or 1.46%. The decline was driven by selling pressure on AI‑related and chip shares following disappointing earnings from several major U.S. technology firms.
Tokyo, October 30, 2026 – Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell more than 3 percent on Friday morning as investors pulled back from artificial‑intelligence and semiconductor shares.
At 10:54 a.m. local time, the 225‑issue index was down 1,867.61 points, dropping to 62,791.86, a loss of 2.89 percent from the previous day. The broader Topix index fell 58.54 points to 3,944.74, a decline of 1.46 percent.
Wrecked by Weak Earnings
Stock analysts point to a string of weak earnings from several U.S. technology giants as the main catalyst for the sell‑off. Shares tied to AI development and semiconductor production fell sharply, weighing on the index as investors reassessed the sustainability of AI spending.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Nikkei 225 fell 3 percent on Thursday, led by semiconductor‑related stocks, while the broader TOPIX index declined 1.3 percent during the session. Among the 225 constituents, 123 stocks fell, 100 rose, and two remained unchanged.
Both Xinhua and the Saudi Press Agency note that the drop was the most significant since recent market volatility, reflecting heightened concerns about the impact of AI‑related investment on corporate earnings.
