Japanese Shares Steady Amid Strong Trade Data

The Nikkei 225 Index was little changed above 63,400 on Wednesday, lacking a clear direction as investors digested stronger-than-expected trade data while preparing for a key US Federal Reserve policy decision. Japanese exports increased more than anticipated in August, supported by solid demand for AI-related chips despite continued supply disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the US central bank is widely expected to raise interest rates later in the day, while the Bank of Japan is also likely to tighten policy on Friday. Elsewhere, investors continued to weigh rising safety concerns surrounding AI development, although Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang dismissed the need for additional AI security regulations, arguing that market forces will encourage companies to innovate safely. Technology stocks traded mixed, with notable declines in Kioxia (-2.7%) and SoftBank Group (-3.7%), while Taiyu Yuden (0.6%) and Advantest (0.5%) posted gains.