Nikkei Falls as AI Slowdown Fears Hit SoftBank and Chip Shares

Tokyo stocks traded mixed on September 14, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 63,499, down 511.89 points, while the broader TOPIX rose 32.88 points to 4,061.18. Selling pressure hit AI- and semiconductor-linked shares, as concerns about slower artificial-intelligence progress weighed on sentiment across the sector. Reuters reported that leaders from major AI firms, including OpenAI and Anthropic, urged slowing development over safety concerns, disrupting a rally that has relied on rapid AI investment growth. SoftBank Group, seen as a proxy for global AI spending, and memory-chip maker Kioxia both declined, dragging the Nikkei even as TOPIX gained on more defensive, domestic demand names.