Tokyo stocks rebound on renewed hopes for AI industry growth

Tokyo stocks rebounded on Friday due to optimism surrounding the artificial intelligence industry's continued growth, despite concerns surrounding Nvidia Corp. The Nikkei Stock Average, comprising 225 issues, increased by 322.99 points, or 0.53%, to 61,142.35 from Thursday's closing level. The broader Topix index also gained 4.24 points, or 0.11%, to 3,941.57. Among the top-tier Prime Market, service, retail, warehousing, and harbor transportation service issues led the gains.

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama highlighted Japan's commitment to collaborating with the United States and implementing necessary actions in response to the yen's depreciation, should the need arise. The U.S. dollar briefly returned to the lower 160 yen range in Tokyo due to anticipations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike in December. However, it quickly retreated to below 160 yen after concerns surfaced over potential currency intervention by Japanese authorities.

Shares related to AI and semiconductors, including market leaders such as Advantest, mirrored overnight gains witnessed in some of their U.S. counterparts. Strategist Wataru Akiyama from Nomura Securities Co. noted the potential for Nvidia's absence in the semiconductor sector to be filled by other companies. The previous day's decline prompted buybacks as brokerages explained their actions.

The decline in stock prices the prior day was attributed to reports of preparatory steps aimed at removing Nvidia's founder and former CEO, Jensen Huang, over alleged extramarital affairs, including one suspected of espionage for China. As the afternoon approached, stocks saw a reduction in their gains due to worries about AI regulation in the United States, following the Democrats' recent election victory.