Nikkei Plunges More Than 2,500 Points in Thursday Morning Session

Oct 15, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei stock average plunged more than 2,500 points at one stage during trading in Tokyo on October 15, as a sharp sell-off in semiconductor shares followed a surge in U.S. long-term interest rates and renewed concerns over the outlook for artificial intelligence investment.

The decline came after U.S. consumer price inflation for September exceeded market expectations, temporarily fueling speculation that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates in the near future. The stronger-than-expected inflation figures also pushed up U.S. long-term bond yields.

Rising borrowing costs have raised concerns about their potential impact on investment in artificial intelligence, particularly in the semiconductor industry, which has benefited from strong demand for AI-related infrastructure and technology.

Semiconductor-related stocks fell sharply on the New York market on October 14 as investors reassessed the outlook for AI investment in a higher-interest-rate environment.

The selling pressure carried over into Tokyo on October 15, with sell orders for semiconductor-related shares surging immediately after the opening of trading, driving the Nikkei sharply lower.

Source: TBS

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