The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.8% to around 66,900 on Monday, marking a new all-time high as technology stocks extended gains amid sustained optimism over the artificial intelligence–driven rally. Japanese companies remain deeply involved in the global buildout of AI infrastructure, helping to position the domestic market as one of the key beneficiaries of the worldwide tech boom. Leading the sector’s advance was Kioxia Holdings, which surged 8.3%, followed by SoftBank Group (+4.9%), Furukawa Electric (+3.1%), Tokyo Electron (+2.7%), and Sumitomo Electric (+2.2%).
On the macroeconomic front, Japan’s capital spending was unchanged in the first quarter from a year earlier, signaling a slowdown in corporate investment. Meanwhile, investors closely monitored developments in the Middle East, where US–Iran negotiations over a permanent ceasefire continued to encounter major obstacles.
