Nikkei Index Hits Record High for Third Straight Day... SoftBank Rises to No. 2 in Market Cap After Four Years

SoftBank Benefits from Positive Impact of OpenAI Investment

The Nikkei 225 Average, the benchmark index of the Japanese stock market, set a new all-time closing high for the third consecutive day.

On September 25, the Nikkei 225 closed at 45,754, up 0.27% from the previous trading day. In early trading, the index fell by about 130 points compared to the previous day's close, affected by the decline in the New York stock market on September 24 (local time). However, it later reversed course and moved higher.

Kyodo News reported that "expectations for improved earnings grew against the backdrop of a weaker yen, boosting export-related stocks." The agency noted that automakers such as Nissan Motor and Mazda led the gains. SoftBank Group, which lifted the index the previous day, also rose by 3.05% on this day.

SoftBank Group's market capitalization was recorded at 28.7 trillion yen (approximately 270.5 trillion won), surpassing Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group to become the second-largest company by market capitalization. The top spot is held by Toyota Motor Corporation, with a market capitalization of 46.7 trillion yen (about 440 trillion won). This is the first time in four years, since 2021, that SoftBank Group has ranked second.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) analyzed the rise in SoftBank Group's stock price, stating that "the positive assessment of its investment in OpenAI has been reflected," and that "it is establishing itself as Japan's leading artificial intelligence company, with its stock price doubling compared to the beginning of the year."

The Nikkei 225 has continued its upward trend since surpassing its previous high on August 12, marking the highest level in about a year.