Nikkei 225 Breaches 49,700 Level as Tech Selloff and Rate Hike Fears Grip Tokyo

Tokyo, Tuesday, 16 December 2025.
On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index fell 1.35% to close at 49,489, breaching the critical 49,700 threshold amid a global tech selloff. The decline was heavily influenced by a sharp correction in AI-related stocks, with Advantest Corp plunging 6.42% and Kioxia Holdings dropping 3.1%, mirroring similar trends on Wall Street. Beyond the tech sector, market sentiment is being tested by the widely anticipated Bank of Japan interest rate hike expected later this week. This dual pressure of external market correlation and domestic monetary tightening highlights a pivotal moment for asset managers navigating Asian market volatility.