Nikkei-Topping Chip Stocks Poised to Extend Gains in 2020
- Advantest, Tokyo Electron, Screen among Nikkei top 10 for 2019
- Demand for 5G smartphones, data centers seen sustaining gains
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A dramatic turnaround in semiconductor stocks has been the hottest theme in Japan’s stock market this year, and it may just be the tip of the iceberg.
Advantest Corp. is the Nikkei 225 Stock Average’s runaway winner for 2019, up almost 150% with a couple of weeks remaining. After languishing well into the summer, the stock took off in the second half, helped by expectations for 5G communications technology. A similar rebound was seen in chip equipment peers Tokyo Electron Ltd. and Screen Holdings Co., which are also in the Nikkei’s top 10 best performers.