The Nikkei 225 Index slipped 0.6% to below 72,000 on Tuesday, while the broader Topix Index lost 0.5% to 7,073. Both benchmarks retreated from record highs as investors locked in profits after a strong rally in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related stocks. Japanese shares also tracked overnight weakness on Wall Street, where major US technology names came under pressure.
Sentiment was partly supported, however, by signs of progress in ongoing US–Iran talks after Washington granted Tehran a 60‑day license to sell oil on international markets, bolstering expectations of a faster recovery in global supply.
In corporate moves, SoftBank Group fell 5.8%, JX Advanced Metals declined 3.1%, Furukawa Electric dropped 4.6%, Taiyo Yuden eased 1.7%, and Murata Manufacturing shed 3.9%.
