Tokyo Stock Exchange
12:49 JST, April 19, 2024 (updated at 16:00 JST)
TOKYO, April 19 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average posted its worst day in more than two and half years on Friday as chip-related stocks tracked losses in Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC, while an escalation in the Middle East turmoil also dented risk appetite.
The Nikkei fell 2.66% to close at 37,068.35 in its sharpest daily fall since September 2022, with 206 out of 225 stocks declining.
The index fell to as low as 36,733.06 earlier in the session, its lowest since Feb. 8. For the week, it lost 6.2% in its biggest fall since June 2022.
“The Nikkei was weak as chip shares tanked after TSMC’s earnings. And the index extended losses on the news about the Middle East turmoil,” said Shuji Hosoi, senior strategist at Daiwa Securities.
Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil on Friday, sources told Reuters, in the…
