Business · Markets · 1 hr ago
Japan’s Nikkei falls more than 6% as AI-linked stocks sell off
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell more than 6% soon after trading began on Friday, as shares across Asian markets also declined.
The drop followed a sharp sell-off on Wall Street, where the Nasdaq fell 5.5% on Thursday.
Investors sold AI and semiconductor stocks amid concerns about the cost of borrowing and whether construction of AI data centers will slow.
Data centers use chips, electricity and other services, so a slowdown could reduce demand for companies that have benefited from the AI boom.
US election results added to worries about data center rules, as Democrats’ victories raised the possibility that governments could pause construction.
The sharp falls matter because large AI-related companies have a strong influence on wider stock market indexes.
Asian markets opened lower as the sell-off spread, but the sources do not say what will happen next.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell more than 6% in Friday morning trading, with reports saying it briefly dropped more than 7% and below 60,000.
AI and semiconductor-related shares led the declines, following a sell-off in related stocks on Wall Street.
Investors were concerned that Democratic victories in the U.S. midterm elections could lead to tighter limits on data-center construction.
The Nikkei was reported at different levels during the morning, including 57,271.19 and 57,858.61.
Other Asian markets also fell, including South Korea’s Kospi, which dropped 7.1% in morning trading.
- Who
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 and other Asian stock markets.
- What
- The Nikkei fell more than 6% in morning trading, as AI and semiconductor-related shares sold off.
- When
- Friday morning, November 6, 2026.
- Where
- Tokyo, with declines also reported across other Asian markets.
- Why
- Concern that U.S. election results could lead to tighter restrictions on data-center construction, alongside a Wall Street sell-off in AI-linked stocks.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
U.S. midterm elections produced nationwide victories for Democrats, raising concerns about possible pauses in data-center construction.
The S&P 500 fell 4.4% as AI-related and other technology stocks sold off on Wall Street.
The Nikkei fell more than 6%, briefly dropping more than 7% and below 60,000, while other Asian markets also declined.
- Nikkei morning level
- 57,271.19, down 6.2% (AP)
- Nikkei reported at noon
- 57,858.61, down 5.27% from Thursday (Kyodo)
- Topix
- 3,726.50, down 5.43% (Kyodo)
- South Korea’s Kospi
- 5,000.25, down 7.1% (AP)
- Wall Street benchmark
- S&P 500 fell 4.4% on Thursday (AP)
9 sources
Nikkei briefly dives over 7% to below 60,000 on AI regulation worries
Asian tech stocks sink
日経平均6万円割れ「売りスパイラルに」「自由落下状態」市場の見方
Nikkei 225 falls more than 7% following AI-related declines on Wall Street
Japan's Nikkei tumbles more than 6% after trading opens
[속보]日 닛케이 장 초반 5% 급락…美 AI주 투매 여파
What people are saying
Japanese stocks were sold across the board amid growing uncertainty over the economic and political outlook following the U.S. midterm elections.