Nikkei 225 closes 2.7 percent lower as AI stocks sell off

The Nikkei 225 closed at 62,907.84 points on October 22, losing 1,713.40 points or 2.65 percent. Selling in artificial intelligence-linked shares intensified after weak guidance from Lam Research raised fresh questions about AI infrastructure spending.

Resonac Holdings fell 11.16 percent, while Trend Micro rose 8.69 percent. The index opened at 64,539.36 points and reached 64,866.44 before finishing at the session low, Jiji Press reported.

Why did the Nikkei 225 fall below 63,000 points?

Lam Research shares fell after its sales outlook failed to impress investors, according to Jiji Press. The reaction spread through Japanese semiconductor and equipment shares as investors questioned the profitability of large AI investments.

The Nikkei semiconductor stock index fell 5.28 percent. The decline also followed a sharp rise on October 21, when the Nikkei 225 gained 545.82 points or 0.85 percent.

Nikkei 225 winners and losers

Winners and losers at the Tokyo close came from the same Nikkei 225 session, according to Investing.com:

• Trend Micro up 8.7 percent
• Shift up 8.6 percent
• BayCurrent up 3.8 percent
• Resonac Holdings down 11.2 percent
• Ibiden down 9.5 percent
• Screen Holdings down 8.8 percent

Declining stocks outnumbered advancing stocks 2,092 to 1,404, with 228 unchanged. Only 13 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's 33 industry groups rose, while nonferrous metals and electrical equipment led declines, Minkabu reported.

Oil adds to pressure on Japanese technology shares

Oil prices rose more than 2 percent after reports of damaged tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The move added an inflation risk as technology shares faced renewed pressure, the Associated Press reported.

What comes next for the Nikkei 225

• October 23, 2026, 8:30 a.m. JST: Japan releases September national CPI; core CPI is expected at 2.1 percent versus 1.7 percent in August, Mace News reports.
• October 23, 2026, 9:30 a.m. JST: Japan's preliminary October purchasing managers' index is due, with manufacturing at 54.5 previously and services at 51.3, Trading Economics reports.
• October 23, 2026, 9:00 a.m. JST: The Tokyo Stock Exchange opens the next Nikkei 225 session.

Where the Nikkei 225 stands after the close

The Nikkei 225 closed at 62,907.84 points on October 22, down 1,713.40 points or 2.65 percent from the previous close of 64,621.24 points. It opened at 64,539.36 points, reached a high of 64,866.44 and fell to a low of 62,907.84 points, according to Xinhua.

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