Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.05% to settle at 67,744 on Wednesday, surrendering initial advances and marking a fifth consecutive session of losses. Worries regarding the longevity of the artificial intelligence investment surge intensified following a statement from Dutch chip-equipment manufacturer ASML, which indicated it would be unable to satisfy demand for the subsequent two years.
Equities faced continued downward pressure amid escalating crude prices and persistent supply chain challenges in the Middle East, intensifying anxieties surrounding inflationary pressures. Initial advances were underpinned by remarks from New York Federal Reserve President John Williams, who posited that an additional interest rate increase may be warranted this year, while implying that further monetary policy adjustments might not be necessary in 2027.
Shares in the technology and banking sectors registered significant losses. Kioxia Holdings retreated 3.2%, Tokyo Electron decreased 2.7%, Lasertec shed 1.6%, Mitsubishi UFJ fell 1.9%, and Mizuho Financial decreased 2.9%. Persistent apprehensions regarding artificial intelligence-driven demand, escalating energy expenses, and inflationary pressures fostered investor caution, resulting in a fifth successive decline for the Nikkei.