Japan's Nikkei rises over 3.5% as AI shares rally on Micron forecast

SK Hynix

25/06/2026 03:35

By Junko Fujita

    TOKYO, June 25 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average jumped more than 3.5% on Thursday as AI-related shares surged after U.S. memory chipmaker Micron's upbeat quarterly profit and revenue forecast. 
The Nikkei .N225 was up 3.72% at 71,754.53, as of 0159 GMT, set to snap two consecutive sessions of declines, if the current momentum holds. The broader Topix .TOPX rose 1.34% to 4,016.71. 
The recent downturn in tech-heavy Nikkei followed a sharp decline in semiconductor firm SK Hynix 000660.KS earlier this week. 
     Micron MU.O, a key supplier for Nvidia NVDA.O AI processors alongside South Korean chipmakers, forecast quarterly profit and revenue well above expectations and said customers had committed $22 billion to secure memory chip supply, sending its shares surging 12% in after-hours trade on Wednesday.
Shares of SK Hynix, also a supplier to Nvidia, rose as much as 11.1% in early morning trade on Thursday.
"The Nikkei's sharp gain is simply due to Micron's earnings," said Takamasa Ikeda, senior portfolio manager at GCI Asset Management.
"The U.S. semiconductor index .SOX, which is highly correlated with the Nikkei, will probably rise later in the day." 
On Thursday, chip-testing equipment maker Advantest 6857.T jumped 11.8% and chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron 8035.T was up 7.9%. 
Shares of memory maker Kioxia 285A.T rose 9%. 
Makers of AI-data centre materials advanced: Murata Manufacturing 6981.T and Taiyo Yuden 6976.T climbed 6.35% and 11%, respectively. 
Defying the broader strength, energy sectors fell after oil prices extended declines. The mining sector .IMING.T dropped 3.2%, with Inpex 1605.T down 3.53%, while oil refiners .IPETE.T edged 0.11% lower.
Japanese shippers also slipped, with Kawasaki Kisen 9107.T down 3%, while the sector index .ISHIP.T lost nearly 2%.
Of more than 1,500 stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's prime market, 74% rose, 21% fell and 3% were flat. 


 (Reporting by Junko Fuijita; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
 ((junko.fujita@thomsonreuters.com;))