Japan Market Daily | Kabutaro & Friends

On August 24, 2026, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 fell for a second straight session, closing down 488.27 points (-0.74%) at 65,528.09. Selling dominated on higher long-term interest rates in both Japan and the United States and on weakness in South Korean equities. South Korea's KOSPI dropped 3.12% to close at 6,696.96, led by an 8.7% plunge in Samsung Electronics, and semiconductor and AI-related names were sold in Tokyo as well, with Kioxia Holdings down 6.24% and SoftBank Group down 5.33%. Advantest and SoftBank Group alone subtracted about 563 points from the index. On the other hand, advancers outnumbered decliners on the TSE Prime Market at 841 to 658, 20 of the 33 sector indexes rose, and Tokyo Electron and Recruit Holdings were bought. Investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of Nvidia's earnings on the 26th and Fed Chair Warsh's Jackson Hole speech on the 28th. USD/JPY softened to around 158.71 in the morning.