In brief
Japanese stocks closed the week on a positive note after a sharp Friday plunge, with the Nikkei 225 up 2.33% and the broader Topix rising nearly 3%. Technology names like Advantest and Tokyo Electron led the rally, though analysts warned the gains may be weak and future tech prospects uncertain.
Tokyo stocks finished the week up after a big Friday sell‑off. Nikkei 225 gained 1,340.73 points, or 2.33%, to close at 58,775.50, while the broader Topix index rose 110.17 points, or 2.97%, to 3,818.16.
The rebound was driven by a flurry of buying in artificial‑intelligence and semiconductor shares, as investors went back to the market to buy bargains left behind by Friday’s 3,600‑point slide.
Heavyweights such as Advantest, Tokyo Electron and Fast Retailing were among the biggest gainers. Stocks of companies that reported strong earnings also attracted buying.
Regional markets mirrored the recovery, with trading in Hong Kong and Shanghai showing similar late‑week rebounds as U.S. technology shares regained a foothold after midterm‑election‑driven concerns about data‑center regulation and AI funding.
Still, some analysts described the rally as “weak,” noting that the outlook for technology shares remains uncertain and clouding the market’s near‑term direction. They suggest investors should be cautious as more volatility could return.
