The Nikkei Stock Average opened 251.94 points, or 0.38%, lower at 65,604.49 on Aug. 26 as investors reduced positions ahead of Nvidia’s earnings release. Advantest and Tokyo Electron traded lower, while Fast Retailing and Toyota Motor were flat and SoftBank Group and Sony Group gained modestly. The retreat followed gains across all three major U.S. indexes, where Nvidia rebounded 2.19% after a seven-session losing streak, helping lift other chip stocks. Falling oil prices and lower U.S. Treasury yields also supported sentiment, although weaker U.S. consumer confidence and concerns about the durability of AI infrastructure spending limited the market’s upside. Investors are watching Nvidia’s forward guidance as a test of sustained AI investment. The previous record’s 65,595.13 reading at 0015 GMT and its references to Kioxia, the dollar at 159.24 yen, and Middle East risks remain earlier market observations rather than the Aug. 26 opening level.