Japan's Nikkei climbs above 70,000 as AI semiconductor stocks lead rally

On June 30 the Nikkei 225 recovered to 70,062.32, rising more than 1,100 points as AI‑related semiconductor shares such as Tokyo Electron and Advantest drove the gain. The following trading day, July 2, saw the Nikkei slip by 883 points to 69,591.75, but the TOPIX stayed in positive territory and a broad range of game and entertainment companies—including Sony, Nintendo, Bandai Namco and mobile‑game firms—posted gains, reflecting heightened buying interest in sectors lagging the broader decline.

Market commentary notes that AI semiconductor names have attracted both optimism and caution: while firms like Kioxia, Tokyo Electron and TDK saw buying pressure, analysts warn that the hype around AI could lead to a split between winners and losers. Overall, Japanese equities displayed a mixed picture, with selective strength in AI‑related and entertainment stocks offset by broader index volatility.