Nikkei Climbs to Fresh Record Above 71,000 on Semiconductor Rally

On June 19 the Nikkei 225 extended its record-setting run, building on the prior session’s surge above 71,000. The index rose 1.65% to 71,053.49 on June 18 after the Fed’s hawkish dot-plot revision lifted U.S. yields yet failed to dent Japanese and Korean tech shares. Semiconductor strength and easing geopolitical tensions drove both the Nikkei and KOSPI to all-time highs while Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Australian equities fell.