Japan's Nikkei falls as semiconductor stocks slide on AI spending caution

Japan's Nikkei index fell Thursday as semiconductor stocks gave up previous gains, with investors cautious about AI investment spending outlook for next year. The tech-heavy Nikkei dropped 0.8% to 64,128.54, while the broader Topix remained flat. Lam Research shares declined in extended trading despite solid earnings, with analyst Kazuyoshi Saito citing concerns about Chinese demand following a pre-regulation buying rush. Tokyo Electron fell 4.1%, costing the index 212 points, while Screen Holdings dropped 6% and Lasertec declined 2.7%. SoftBank Group lost 3.1%, but cybersecurity firm Trend Micro surged 6.6% after critical PHP vulnerabilities prompted European governments to take websites offline. IT services firm SHIFT gained 9%, leading the Nikkei, while BayCurrent rose 5.9% and Sony advanced 2.6%.