Nikkei dips on repeat oil-to-chips selling pattern

Japan's Nikkei opened near 68,700 yen on August 18, down about 500 yen. Semiconductor stocks led losses after rising US crude prices pushed Wall Street lower overnight. This chain — oil up, US stocks down, Tokyo chips sold — drove the Nikkei's worst 2026 drops, including a 3,000+ yen plunge on July 28. Today followed the same route.