AI and Semiconductor Stocks Hovered Near Record Highs in Tokyo, Fujikura Plunged 19%

Akira Ito
14 May, 2026
Tokyo

Japan's indexes edged lower, crude oil prices remained volatile, and the yen retained its downward bias amid lingering uncertainty in the Middle East. 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 0.8%, the broader Topix decreased 1%, and the yen eased to 157.88 against the U.S. dollar. 

The Brent crude oil prices for a barrel inched up 0.6% to 106.25 amid ongoing hostilities in the Persian Gulf.

Japan's benchmark indexes retreated from record highs as investors booked profits following historic highs in AI- and semiconductor-related stocks. 

 

Japan Indexes and Stocks 

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 0.8% to 62,740.47, and the broader TOPIX declined 1% to 3,879.27. 

SoftBank Group declined 4% to ¥5,770.00 despite the venture investment company reporting a sharp increase in quarterly profit driven by a valuation gain linked to its investment in OpenAI. 

Net profit attributable to shareholders jumped to 1.83 trillion yen, or $11.6 billion, from 517.2 billion yen a year ago. 

Investment gains drove the bulk of the increase in net income, which was driven by a large increase of 3.04 trillion yen in equity investments in the company's flagship Vision Funds. 

SoftBank said the company's investment in OpenAI stood at $79.6 billion at the end of March, representing a cumulative capital gain of $45 billion on its initial investment. 

Fujikura Ltd. decreased 19.1% to ¥6,355.0 despite the company posting double-digit gains in sales and earnings in the fiscal year ending in March. 

Revenue advanced 20.7% to ¥1.2 trillion from ¥979.4 billion; net income attributable to shareholders advanced to ¥157.2 billion from ¥91.1 billion; and earnings per share rose to ¥94.93 from ¥55.05 a year ago. 

The company announced a 6-for-1 stock split and announced a year-end dividend of 130.0 yen, increasing the total annual dividend to 225.0 yen compared to 100.0 yen a year ago. 

The company's ordinary and operating profits were below the company's previous estimate released on February 9, largely because of the provision of 12.8 billion yen related to tariffs at its U.S. subsidiary.

By segment, telecommunication systems, automotive products, and power systems achieved record-high profits.

In telecommunication systems, net sales and operating profit increased due to demand for data centers, which continued to grow on the back of the spread and expansion of generative AI. Operating profit was 1.7 times higher than the previous year.