Nikkei Hits Record Highs as AI Rally Drives Massive Weekly Gains

Japan's Nikkei 225 index has delivered its most significant weekly performance in nearly two years, propelled by a massive surge in artificial intelligence-related stocks. Despite geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East, the index achieved consecutive record highs this week, marking a historic period of growth for Japanese equities.

AI and Semiconductor Boom Drives Nikkei Surge

The Nikkei index recorded a remarkable 7.9% rise for the week, marking its sharpest weekly gain since August 2024. This rally was characterized by seven straight sessions of gains, fueled largely by investor enthusiasm for the artificial intelligence sector.

On Friday, the index spiked to a record high of 71,952.99 before closing slightly lower at 71,250.06, representing a 0.28% daily increase. The momentum was clearly visible in the semiconductor and tech sectors, where chip-related stocks like Advantest rose by 4.75% and Kioxia climbed by 12%. This sectoral strength highlights how central the global AI narrative has become for Japanese market participants.

Fujikura Leads Growth with Massive Profit Forecast Upgrade

One of the standout performers of the week was the fibre-optic cable maker Fujikura, which surged 15.69% to hit a daily limit high of 5,161 yen. This massive jump followed a significant upgrade in its annual net profit forecast.

Fujikura raised its annual net profit guidance to 229 billion yen ($1.42 billion), a substantial leap from its initial forecast of 156 billion yen. This upward revision, driven by the demand for AI data centre materials, also lifted its peer, Furukawa Electric, which surged by 15%. The disparity between Fujikura's success and the broader cautiousness regarding fibre-optic makers underscores the intense demand for infrastructure supporting AI expansion.

Geopolitical Tensions and Profit Booking Temper Gains

While the Nikkei enjoyed its rally, the broader Topix index fell 0.57% to 4,044.96, dragged down by weakness in the banking sector. Large lenders such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group saw declines of 2.85% and 4.42%, respectively.

Il mercato ha inoltre affrontato venti contrari dovuti alla improvvisa incertezza geopolitica. La notizia che i colloqui tra gli Stati Uniti e i negoziatori iraniani riguardanti un patto di pace in Medio Oriente non si sarebbero tenuti venerdì ha aggiunto volatilità. Daisuke Hashizume, senior strategist presso Daiwa Securities, ha osservato che la improvvisa interruzione dei negoziati pianificati suggerisce una "strada difficile davanti a sé" per la risoluzione del conflitto. Inoltre, con la chiusura prevista del mercato statunitense per venerdì, molti investitori hanno scelto di consolidare i profitti del recente rally prima del fine settimana, impedendo al Nikkei di mantenere il suo picco record.

Punti chiave

  • Dominio del settore AI: Il guadagno settimanale del 7,9% del Nikkei è stato trainato principalmente dai titoli legati ai semiconduttori e alle infrastrutture per i data center per l'AI.
  • Impatto degli utili aziendali: Il significativo aumento delle previsioni di profitto di Fujikura a 229 miliardi di yen ha agito come un importante catalizzatore per i settori tecnologico e dei materiali.
  • Venti contrari geopolitici: L'incertezza riguardante i negoziati di pace in Medio Oriente e la presa di profitto prima della festività del mercato statunitense hanno limitato i guadagni giornalieri finali del Nikkei.