The Nikkei 225 Index fell 2.4% to below 48,700 while the Topix Index slipped 0.5% to 3,282 on Friday, reversing the prior session’s gains and tracking another selloff on Wall Street overnight. US stocks weakened as worries about an AI bubble persisted and stronger-than-expected US jobs data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold off on cutting interest rates in December. Tech and AI-linked names led the decline in Japan, with SoftBank Group, Advantest, Kioxia Holdings, Fujikura and Lasertec losing between 3.8% and 14%. Investors also positioned ahead of a widely expected stimulus announcement from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government, which has put pressure on the yen and domestic bonds. On the data front, Japan’s core inflation quickened to a three-month high in October, while exports topped expectations.