AI and semiconductor stocks lead Nikkei to 66,442

2026-06-12

AI and semiconductor stocks lift the market

In Tokyo trading on the 12th, the Nikkei Stock Average extended its gains sharply, with the morning close at 66,442, up 2,225 from the previous day. It rose 3.47%, and at one point during trading the gain exceeded 2,800 points. Against expectations for an end to fighting between the United States and Iran, buying back of artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related shares, which had recently taken a breather, dominated.

Buying concentrates in major stocks

Leading AI and semiconductor-related names such as Advantest and SoftBank Group (SBG) helped push up the index. Tokyo Electron at one point rose nearly 12%, climbing into the 70,000 yen range for the first time after adjusting for its stock split and marking an all-time high. Tokyo Electron and Advantest alone lifted the Nikkei average by nearly 1,200 points. Support also came from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said a final agreement to end the fighting with Iran was close.

Kioxia becomes top by market value

Kioxia Holdings, which rose more than 8%, saw its market capitalization climb into the 44 trillion yen range, overtaking Toyota Motor, which is in the 43 trillion yen range, to take the top spot. Murata Manufacturing and Ibiden also drew buying, and in the Topix Prime gainers ranking, Marumae, a maker of parts for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, ranked first, while other AI and semiconductor-related names such as Nihon Micronics and Mitsui Kinzoku followed. The Nikkei average at one point moved above the key 67,000 level.

Supply-demand concerns remain

In the market, some pointed to improving sentiment after the index rose above 66,213 yen, a so-called half retracement of the 4,377-yen decline from the record high of 68,402 yen set on the 3rd to the recent low of 64,024 yen on the 8th. On the U.S. stock market, however, there were also profit-taking moves in the seven major U.S. tech names, the Magnificent 7, ahead of a planned initial public offering (IPO) by SpaceX. Large listings by Anthropic and OpenAI are also expected later this year, and concern over worsening supply-demand conditions remains.

Some selling emerges near 67,000 yen

In Tokyo trading on the 12th, the market also lost momentum from around the middle of the morning session. 'When 67,000 yen comes into view, sell orders that appear to be waiting to be unwound by regional banks and shinkin banks increase,' said a trader at a domestic brokerage. While expectations for AI growth continue, the heavy supply-demand backdrop at higher levels is likely to keep capping further gains.

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