Japan's Nikkei 225 extended intraday gains to 2%.

OpenAI and Broadcom on Wednesday unveiled a jointly developed custom inference chip codenamed "Jalapeño", marking OpenAI's formal entry into AI chip development. Broadcom will manufacture the Intelligence Processor, which both parties call the platform’s first "AI accelerator"; a physical sample was delivered Wednesday and initial deployment is targeted by end‑2026 with scale‑up planned over subsequent years. OpenAI president Greg Brockman said designing more of the technology stack will let the company deliver intelligent services more efficiently and broaden access to advanced AI.

JERA president said the company will consider whether to renew its LNG supply contract with the operator of Russia's Sakhalin-2 project and will ensure any decision aligns with Japanese government policy.