Japan's Nikkei Drops 2% at Open as Tech Selloff and Oil Prices Pressure Equities

Japanese equities opened sharply lower, with the Nikkei reportedly falling approximately 2% as global technology weakness and rising energy prices weighed on investor sentiment.
The selloff reportedly erased more than ¥23.5 trillion, or approximately $150 billion, in Japanese stock market value.
Japan faces pressure from two directions: declining semiconductor and technology shares following the US AI-sector correction, and higher oil prices that increase costs for an economy heavily dependent on imported energy.
The combination could weigh on corporate profitability and consumer purchasing power. However, opening-session losses may change significantly before the close, and the reported market capitalization decline requires confirmation against the relevant index coverage.