Asian Stocks: Japanese stocks fell by 523 points or nearly 1% in the half-day session, automotive stocks weakened while heavy industry stocks rose

Japanese stocks fell in the early market, as U.S. President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on eight NATO member countries over the Greenland issue, impacting the market. Investors are also watching the domestic political situation in Japan. The Nikkei average index opened down 546 points and the decline widened, dropping 844 points to 53,091 points, closing down 523 points or 1% at 53,412 points.

In the artificial intelligence and semiconductor sector, SoftBank (9984.JP) and Advantest (6857.JP) fell 1.2% and 2%, respectively, while Renesas Electronics (6920.JP) dropped 0.2%. Discus (6146.JP) rose 2.3%, and Tokyo Electron (8035.JP) and Kioxia (285A.JP) increased by 0.6% and 0.3%. In the wire sector, Sumitomo Electric (5802.JP) and Fujikura (5803.JP) fell 1.3% and 2.5%. In the heavy industry sector, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.JP) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (7012.JP) rose 2.9% and 3.2%, while JX Metals (5016.JP) increased by 1.6%, and Electric Power Development (9501.JP) rose 2.7%.

Automobile stocks fell, with Toyota (7203.JP) and Honda (7267.JP) down 2% and 1.5%, respectively, and Nissan (7201.JP) down 3.2%. In other stocks, Ryohin Keikaku (7453.JP) and Sanrio (8136.JP) fell 3.8% and 4.7%. Fast Retailing (9983.JP) and Sony (6758.JP) dropped 1.7% and 2.1%, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (8306.JP) fell 1.5%. Panasonic (6752.JP) rose 2.1%.

The U.S. dollar fell against the Japanese yen, last reported at 157.89