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President Donald Trump speaking at the White House
Photo: ABC News / Getty Images

Nikkei Rises 1.2% as Trump Backs AI Self-Regulation

CNBC2 min read6 sources

Why is the Nikkei up today?

Japan's Nikkei 225 (^N225) rose 1.2% to 66,271 by midday Wednesday as SoftBank jumped about 6% after Trump backed AI self-regulation over new rules.

Key numbers

Nikkei 225 (midday)66,271+1.2%
SoftBank shares (Tokyo)about +6%in morning trading
Proposed AI oversight committee10 peoplescope and powers unclear
Nvidia shares (Tuesday)-0.72%Wall Street close
US 30-year Treasury yield5.62%highest since 2002

What happened

Japan's Nikkei 225 (^N225) rose 1.2% to 66,271 by midday Wednesday as SoftBank jumped about 6% after Trump backed AI self-regulation over new rules. On Tuesday at the White House, Trump and tech bosses, including Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Elon Musk, signed a one-page pledge he called "morally binding," though it cannot be enforced in court. Trump also said he would not work with China on AI rules, floated a 10-person oversight committee and said he would rename AI "super intelligence".

Why it matters

The Nikkei 225 gain shows how closely Asian stocks follow US policy on AI, because Japan, South Korea and Taiwan make or fund much of the chips and computing power AI needs. The pledge is voluntary, so AI companies face fewer immediate legal limits, which investors often see as good for chip demand. It also leaves room to turn the promises into law later, so the rules could still change.

Who this affects

Marketbullish
Medium impact
Asian AI and chip shareholders gain from lighter rules.
Companyneutral
Low impact
Nvidia faces fewer rule limits, but shares slipped 0.72% Tuesday.
Competitorsneutral
Low impact
Chinese AI rivals will not get US cooperation on rules.
Industrymixed
Medium impact
AI developers gain freedom; critics see weak oversight.

Nikkei 225 vs Kospi, Hang Seng, Shanghai Composite

Nikkei 225^N22566,271+1.2%
Kospi^KS11—+0.1%
Hang Seng^HSI24,463-0.25%
Shanghai Composite000001.SS3,842+0.3%

As of 2026-09-30

How we got here

  1. Trump and tech CEOs sign one-page "White House Accord" on AI at a White House lunch.

  2. Trump says he will not work with China on AI governance and floats a 10-person oversight committee.

  3. Wall Street ends slightly lower as the 30-year Treasury yield hits 5.62%, highest since 2002.

  4. Nikkei 225 rises 1.2% at midday; SoftBank jumps about 6% in Tokyo.

What to watch

  • Details, members and powers of the proposed 10-person AI oversight committee.Q4 2026
  • Whether rising US long-term yields keep weighing on tech and chip shares.2026-10-01

Educational content only. Not investment advice.

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