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Nikkei 225 hits record high, crosses 72,000 for first time

Nikkei 225 hits record high, crosses 72,000 for first time

Japan’s benchmark stock index closed at 72,353.96 after a seventh straight record session as investors backed chip and robotics shares tied to a long-term physical AI spending push.

Fact Check
All components of the claim are corroborated. Odaily and Lookonchain confirm the Nikkei 225 rose ~1% intraday to 71,967.41 (the first figure). The OANDA Japanese market summary shows the index reached 72,648.47 in morning trading (futures 72,870), confirming it crossed 72,500 intraday, and Odaily reports a record close of 72,353.96. The all-time-high characterization is consistent across all sources.
Summary

Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed at a record 72,353.96 on June 22, up 1.55% and marking its seventh consecutive record finish, as investors bought chip, robotics and manufacturing shares linked to the country’s long-term physical AI investment strategy. The broader Topix gained 1.29% to 4,097.26, with both indexes also setting fresh intraday highs. The rally followed government messaging around a 10.5 trillion yen public-private physical AI spending plan spanning 17 strategic sectors through fiscal 2040, part of a broader 370 trillion yen investment drive that also includes 29 trillion yen for communications infrastructure to support AI deployment.

Terms & Concepts
  • Nikkei 225: Japan’s benchmark stock index tracking 225 major listed companies.
  • Topix: A broad Japanese stock index that measures performance across the Tokyo market.
  • physical AI: The use of artificial intelligence in real-world hardware such as robots, machinery and industrial systems.