Nikkei Hits Record Highs with Sharpest Weekly Gain Driven by AI
Japan's Nikkei index has achieved a historic milestone, recording its strongest weekly performance in nearly two years. Fueled by a massive rally in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related stocks, the index reached consecutive record highs this week.
AI and Semiconductor Stocks Lead the Rally
The primary catalyst for the Nikkei's surge was the intense optimism surrounding AI-related sectors. The index posted a substantial 7.9% rise for the week, marking its sharpest weekly growth since August 2024. On Friday, while the index trimmed some early gains, it managed to close 0.28% higher at 71,250.06, after touching an intraday record high of 71,952.99.
Specific industry players drove much of this momentum. Chip-related stocks saw significant movement, with Advantest rising 4.75% and Kioxia jumping 12%. Furthermore, the demand for AI data center infrastructure provided a massive boost to material suppliers. Fujikura, a key player in fiber-optic cables, surged 15.69% to reach its daily limit high of 5,161 yen. This jump followed a significant upward revision in its annual net profit forecast to 229 billion yen ($1.42 billion), up from an initial guidance of 156 billion yen. Similarly, industry peer Furukawa Electric saw a 15% surge.
Geopolitical Uncertainties and Profit Booking
Despite the record-breaking weekly performance, the market faced volatility toward the end of the week due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Uncertainty regarding potential peace talks between the U.S. and Iran weighed heavily on investor sentiment. Reports surfaced that U.S.-Iran negotiations in Switzerland would not take place as planned, following the cancellation of U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s travel to the country.
Daisuke Hashizume, senior strategist at Daiwa Securities, noted that while the market is eyeing a 60-day window to reach a final agreement to end the conflict, the sudden news regarding the stalled talks indicates a "tough road ahead." This geopolitical friction, combined with the U.S. market being closed on Friday, prompted many investors to engage in profit-booking to lock in gains from the recent rally before the weekend.
Divergence in Market Performance
شهد الأسبوع تباينًا ملحوظًا بين مؤشر Nikkei ومؤشر Topix الأوسع نطاقًا. وبينما احتفل Nikkei بمستوياته المرتفعة المدفوعة بالذكاء الاصطناعي، انخفض Topix بنسبة 0.57% ليصل إلى 4,044.96. ويُعزى هذا الضغط الهبوطي على المؤشر الأوسع نطاقًا إلى حد كبير إلى تراجع قطاع البنوك؛ حيث شهدت المؤسسات المالية الكبرى، بما في ذلك Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group وMizuho Financial Group، انخفاضات بنسبة 2.85% و4.42% على التوالي، مما أدى إلى سحب Topix نحو الانخفاض حتى مع ارتفاع أسهم التكنولوجيا.
أهم النقاط المستخلصة
- النمو المدفوع بالذكاء الاصطناعي: سجل Nikkei مكاسب أسبوعية بنسبة 7.9%، مدفوعًا بالارتفاعات الهائلة في أسهم الذكاء الاصطناعي وأشباه الموصلات مثل Advantest وKioxia وFujikura.
- أرقام قياسية: حقق المؤشر مستويات قياسية متتالية هذا الأسبوع، حيث وصل إلى ذروة خلال التداولات عند 71,952.99.
- التحديات الجيوسياسية: أدت محادثات السلام المتعثرة التي تشمل الولايات المتحدة وإيران، إلى جانب عمليات جني الأرباح قبيل عطلة السوق الأمريكية، إلى خلق حالة من التقلب وحدّت من مكاسب يوم الجمعة.