The Nikkei 225 Index was little changed above 63,400 on Wednesday, lacking clear direction as investors weighed stronger-than-expected trade data against anticipation of a key US Federal Reserve policy decision. Japanese exports rose more than forecast in August, underpinned by robust demand for AI-related chips despite ongoing supply disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
At the same time, the US central bank was widely expected to raise interest rates later in the day, while the Bank of Japan was also seen as likely to tighten policy on Friday. Elsewhere, investors continued to assess mounting safety concerns around AI development, though Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang downplayed the need for additional AI security regulations, contending that market forces would incentivize companies to innovate responsibly.
Technology shares were mixed: Kioxia fell 2.7% and SoftBank Group shed 3.7%, while Taiyo Yuden gained 0.6% and Advantest added 0.5%.
