In brief
Japan's Nikkei index fell 3,643.13 points, a 5.96% plunge, marking its third‑largest point drop on record. The drop was led by AI‑linked stocks and spread across the Prime Market as concerns over U.S. post‑midterm regulation and a potential economic slowdown weighed on the market. The Topix index also fell nearly 6%.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei index fell 3,643.13 points, a 5.96 percent slide, in a session that saw AI‑related shares shudder, Xinhua reported on Friday.
The 225‑issue Nikkei Stock Average ended at 57,434.77, after falling more than 4,300 points at one point during the session, and reached its lowest closing level since mid‑April.
The broader Topix index also tumbled, shedding 232.40 points, or 5.90 percent, to finish at 3,707.99.
AI‑ and semiconductor‑related shares led the declines, with selling pressure spreading across nearly all stocks on the Prime Market.
Tokyo stocks tracked overnight losses on Wall Street, where technology shares tumbled amid concerns that Democratic gains in the U.S. midterm elections could pave the way for tighter restrictions on data‑center construction and AI investment.
Analysts said that concerns over a potential economic slowdown also emerged as a new factor weighing on the market, broadening the sell‑off beyond technology stocks.