Nikkei 225 Falls 4.2% as Tech Stocks Lead Asia Market Selloff

Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 4.2% in a broad market selloff that spread across Asia, with technology and semiconductor stocks among the biggest losers. Tokyo Electron fell 7.4%, while SoftBank Group declined 9.3%, reflecting weaker sentiment toward AI-related investments after Broadcom’s outlook disappointed investors. Markets also faced pressure from a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report, which pushed Treasury yields higher and increased concerns that interest rates could remain elevated for longer. Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which helped lift oil prices above $96 per barrel, and weaker Japanese economic data added to the cautious mood. Despite the sharp decline, some analysts view the move as a correction following the Nikkei’s strong rally to record highs earlier this year.