Meta Charm news boosts chip stocks, Nikkei 225 up 1.33% at midday

On Thursday, boosted by news that Meta launched a small handheld device called “Meta Charm,” CPU-related stocks surged, driving the Nikkei 225 index higher. The device is designed to run Meta’s new Muse AI assistant, thereby stimulating demand for key computer components. By the midday break, the Nikkei index rose 1.33%, while the Topix index edged up 0.12%. Kazuaki Shimada, chief strategist at IwaiCosmo Securities, stated that this news boosted the share prices of other CPU-related companies. Socionext, Meiko Electronic, and Ushio Inc all rose by more than 10%. Chip testing equipment manufacturer Advantest climbed 4%, and SoftBank Group edged up 0.52%. Strategists noted that, in recent trading, chip-related stocks have generally been able to withstand the impact of rising yields.