--- title: "The Nikkei index closed up 1,539 points or 2.9%, with Tokyo Electric Power hitting the limit up, leading the AI concept stocks" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/279548686.md" description: "The Nikkei index in Japan rose by 1,539 points or 2.9%, closing at 55,239 points. Influenced by the oil export agreement reached between Iraq, the Kurds, and Turkey, oil prices declined, attracting investors to the market. Stocks in artificial intelligence and semiconductors performed strongly, with SoftBank and DISCO rising by 5.8% and 4.9%, respectively. Tokyo Electric Power hit the upper limit with a 16.3% increase, amid rumors that the company is considering privatization. The exchange rate of the US dollar to the Japanese yen is reported at 158.7" datetime: "2026-03-18T07:05:20.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/279548686.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/279548686.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/279548686.md) --- # The Nikkei index closed up 1,539 points or 2.9%, with Tokyo Electric Power hitting the limit up, leading the AI concept stocks Japanese stocks rose as Iraq reached an agreement with the Kurds and Turkey to export oil through their territory, leading to a decline in oil prices during the Asian session and attracting investors. The Nikkei average opened up 448 points and extended its gains, closing at a daily high of 55,239 points, up 1,539 points or 2.9%. In the artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors, SoftBank (9984.JP) and Discus (6146.JP) rose by 5.8% and 4.9%, respectively, while Advantest (6857.JP) and Kioxia (285A.JP) increased by 6.7% and 8.2%. Tokyo Electron (8035.JP) rose by 3.9%, and Renesas Electronics (6920.JP) gained 0.5%. Fiber optic stocks such as Furukawa Electric (5801.JP), Sumitomo Electric (5802.JP), and Fujikura (5803.JP) rose between 4.5% and 5%. Heavy industry stocks Kawasaki Heavy Industries (7012.JP) and IHI (7013.JP) increased by 4.8% and 3.9%. In the metals sector, JX Metals (5016.JP) rose by 3.5%, while Sumitomo Metal Mining (5713.JP) and Mitsui Mining & Smelting (5706.JP) increased by 4.7% and 7.6%. Rare earth concept stock Mitsui Ocean Development (6269.JP) rose by 5.7%. Trading companies also saw gains, with Mitsui & Co. (8031.JP) and Mitsubishi Corporation (8058.JP) rising by 7.3% and 7.8%, while Sumitomo Corporation (8053.JP) and Itochu (8001.JP) increased by 4.7% and 3.3%. In other stocks, Fast Retailing (9983.JP) rose by 1.2%, while department store stock Isetan Mitsukoshi (3099.JP) increased by 4%. Bank stocks Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.JP), Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.JP), and Mizuho Financial Group (8411.JP) rose by 2.5% to 3.1%. Shipping stocks Nippon Yusen (9101.JP) rose by 4%, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (9104.JP) increased by 11.8%, with reports suggesting that the latter received investment from activist investors. Tokyo Electric Power Company (9501.JP) surged by 16.3% and hit the daily limit, amid rumors that the company is considering privatization through capital cooperation. Mitsubishi Electric (6503.JP) is reportedly planning to sell a 50% stake in its automotive parts business to Hon Hai, with its stock price rising by 3.3%. The USD/JPY exchange rate is reported at 158.7 ### Related Stocks - [SOXL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SOXL.US.md) - [6146.JP](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/6146.JP.md) - [9984.JP](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/9984.JP.md) - [SMH.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SMH.US.md) - [9501.JP](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/9501.JP.md) - [SOXX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SOXX.US.md) - [SFTBY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SFTBY.US.md) - [HEWJ.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/HEWJ.US.md) - [YCS.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/YCS.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [SoftBank Could Turn OpenAI Into Rocket Fuel For Stargate And Robotics](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286415335.md) - [FACTBOX-From Saudi Aramco to Alibaba: World's biggest IPOs](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287119234.md) - [SoftBank's Huge OpenAI Bet Pays Off With $45 Billion Gain](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286241968.md) - [SoftBank More Than Quadruples Annual Profit on $44 Billion in OpenAI Gains](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286216407.md) - [KLA approves 10-for-1 stock split and dividend hike](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286340025.md)