Japan Nikkei 225 ended 0.71 percent lower at 60,816.00 on Thursday, reversing earlier intraday gains, as Nvidia turmoil rattled Asian technology stocks. The index had traded higher earlier in the session before the selling spread from the chip sector across the wider market.
Why it matters
SoftBank shares fell 3 percent in Tokyo on the day, adding to the pressure from the Nvidia crisis. The technology investor is one of the biggest backers of the AI buildout, and its shares have been sensitive to every turn in the AI trade. The fall shows how quickly sentiment can reverse when the sector leader is in trouble.
The selling spread beyond Japan. Nasdaq 100 futures fell about 0.64 percent and S and P 500 futures slipped, while chipmakers Intel, Marvell Technology and Micron fell between 1.9 percent and 2.8 percent in premarket trading. CoreWeave, which had surged 25 percent on its earnings, dropped about 6 percent.
What happens next
Europe told a different story. The STOXX 600 gained around 0.30 percent shortly after the open to reach a record high, on strong corporate earnings and lower energy prices. The divergence shows that the turmoil is centred on AI and chips, not on the wider global economy.
For now, Asia is waiting on Wall Street. The first real test of the Nvidia fall will come when the United States market opens, and the Asian session on Friday will take its lead from there.
The selling spread beyond Japan as the session went on. Nasdaq 100 futures fell about 0.64 percent and S and P 500 futures slipped, while chipmakers Intel, Marvell Technology and Micron fell between 1.9 percent and 2.8 percent in premarket trading. CoreWeave, which had surged 25 percent on its earnings, dropped about 6 percent. Europe told a different story, with the STOXX 600 gaining around 0.30 percent shortly after the open to reach a record high, on strong corporate earnings and lower energy prices. The divergence shows the turmoil is centred on AI and chips, not on the wider global economy. The Nikkei had traded higher earlier in the session before the selling spread, and the index now waits on the United States open for its next direction.
