Nikkei Surpasses 72,000 for First Time as AI Investment Boom Fuels Record Run
Japan's benchmark index extends its winning streak to six sessions, while progress in US-Iran talks eases oil prices and Fed hawkishness weighs on Treasuries.
The Nikkei 225 closed above 72,000 for the first time on Monday, rising 1.5% to 72,353.96 and extending a record-breaking run to a sixth consecutive session. The broader TOPIX also set a fresh closing high at 4,095.05. Intraday, the Nikkei touched 72,831.73 before profit-taking trimmed gains, reflecting both sustained buying pressure and caution near all-time peaks.
The advance was driven by semiconductor and artificial-intelligence-related stocks, with Tokyo Electron up 2.3% and SoftBank Group gaining 2.4%. The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi outlined a target of ¥370 trillion ($2.29 trillion) in public and private investment in strategic sectors including AI and chips by 2040, a plan reported by the Nikkei business daily. In Seoul, the Kospi added 0.4% to trade near record levels, led by a 4.7% surge in memory-chip maker SK Hynix. Strategists at Nomura Securities in Tokyo noted that AI-linked companies are again playing a leading role, while caution persists over Middle East developments.
Asian equities were mixed outside Japan. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 1%, Shanghai edged up 0.2%, and Taiwan’s Taiex jumped 2.8%. Oil prices retreated after mediators Qatar and Pakistan said progress had been made in US-Iran peace talks, with a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days. Brent crude slipped to around $79–80 a barrel, well below its May peak above $126, though Tehran’s announcement of another closure of the Strait of Hormuz kept supply risks in view. In currency markets, the dollar firmed to ¥161.68 and the euro weakened to $1.1454; sterling fell 0.2% amid reports that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering his political future after a rival’s by-election victory.
The Federal Reserve’s hawkish turn last week has markets pricing a 75% chance of a rate hike as early as September, pushing two-year Treasury yields to their highest since early 2025. The core PCE inflation gauge, the Fed’s preferred measure, is due Thursday and is forecast to tick up to 3.4% in May. Lower-level US-Iran technical talks are scheduled for the rest of the week, with the Strait of Hormuz situation and the 60-day roadmap as immediate focal points.
| Continental European press | 0.00 | neutral |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asian press | 0.00 | neutral |
It does not address the Nikkei record, as the story is absent from its coverage.
The absence itself becomes a signal: the bloc does not deem the news relevant for its audience, prioritizing other events.
Any mention of the Nikkei or AI optimism, which are the core of the story, is missing.
It does not comment on the Nikkei record, as the story is absent from its news offering.
The absence of the story indicates the bloc does not consider it a priority for its audience, focusing on other topics.
Any mention of the Nikkei or AI optimism, which are the core of the story, is missing.
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