Japan Stocks Fall as Tech Extends Losses on US China Curb Report
Japanese stocks fell, led by technology and chip-related shares, after a report that the US government was seeking to ramp up its crackdown on China’s semiconductor industry. Concerns about future AI demand also pressured the sector, after a report that Microsoft has canceled some leases for data center capacity.
Trading houses were a bright spot, rising after Warren Buffett said Berkshire Hathaway was planning to gradually increase its holdings of them in a letter to shareholders.
Topix fell 0.4% to 2,724.70 as of market close in Tokyo.
Nikkei 225 declined 1.4% to 38,237.79.
Out of 1,693 stocks in the Topix, 750 rose and 870 fell, while 73 were unchanged. Electronics makers contributed most to the benchmark’s decline.
China-exposed chip equipment makers like Tokyo Electron, Advantest and Screen Holdings extended their morning declines after Bloomberg reported Trump’s administration was planning to bolster US efforts to limit China’s tech sector. Tokyo Electron fell 4.9%, the most since Jan. 28, with Advantest down 6.5% and Screen Holdings declining 6.6%.
Source: Bloomberg
