Japan's Nikkei falls as oil rise hits tech shares again

Japan's Nikkei stock index opened near 68,700 yen on August 18, down about 500 yen. The drop hit computer-chip companies hardest after rising oil prices dragged US stocks down the night before. This same domino effect caused the Nikkei's biggest 2026 falls, including a 3,000+ yen plunge on July 28. Today repeated the pattern.