Japan’s Nikkei share average falls by more than 2% on Friday, with traders citing concerns about the scale of artificial intelligence (AI) spending. Multiple reports link the decline to weaker sentiment following a sharp drop in shares of Alphabet, the parent of Google, in overnight trading, which spills into broader global markets. Losses are also concentrated in technology- and chip-related areas, as investors reassess expectations for AI investment and near-term returns. SoftBank Group shares decline alongside other market segments tied to the tech sector. Some other categories show relative resilience: reports note that shares supported by domestic demand and transport/shipping-related businesses register gains, helping limit the overall market decline. While the move reflects investor caution around AI spending, the reporting indicates the sell-off is not uniform across all sectors, with pockets of strength offsetting declines elsewhere in the market.