Global Markets | Nikkei ends nearly 3% higher as AI, chip stocks rally

Japan's Nikkei share ​average ended nearly 3% higher on ​Wednesday, led by chip and artificial intelligence-related stocks, as ​concerns over the economic impact of surging oil prices subsided.

Global Markets | Nikkei ends nearly 3% higher as AI, chip stocks rally
Japan's Nikkei share average ended nearly 3% higher on Wednesday, led by chip and artificial intelligence-related stocks, as concerns over the economic impact of surging oil prices subsided.

The Nikkei rose 2.87% to 55,239.4, snapping a four-day losing streak, while the broader Topix was up 2.49% at 3,717.41.

"The ‌equity market ⁠has ⁠been closely linked with oil prices. Today, the market eased excessive worries about the ​outlook of oil prices and scooped up heavyweight technology stocks," said Shuutarou Yasuda, a market ​analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory.


Oil prices fell more than $2 per barrel on Wednesday to pare some of Tuesday's sharp gains after the Iraqi ​government and Kurdish authorities reached a deal to ⁠resume oil ‌exports via Turkey's Ceyhan port.

The Nikkei's gains were further ​supported by ​an overnight rally on Wall Street, Yasuda said.

Shares of ⁠Delta Air Lines and American Airlines Group, both sensitive ​to oil price movements, rebounded after recent weeks of losses.
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In Japan, chip-testing equipment maker Advantest jumped 6.73% and AI-technology investor SoftBank Group rose 5.81%. Fibre optic cable maker Fujikura rose 4.47%.

Shares of Mitsui OSK Lines jumped 11.76% after Reuters reported that Elliott Investment Management has taken a "significant" stake in the Japanese shipping company.

Mitsubishi Materials jumped 14.28% ‌after local media reported the maker of copper products will participate in a project between Japan and the United States to ​develop rare earths, ​which will be ⁠agreed at a summit meeting of the two nations.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. at ​a leaders' summit on March 19.
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Tokyo Electric Power jumped 16.3% after local media reported dozens of investment funds and companies, including KKR and Bain Capital, are showing interest in investing in the utility.

Drugmaker Chugai Pharm fell 3.56%, making it the largest percentage loser on the Nikkei.
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