Memory price hikes impact Nintendo: Switch 2 price increases by $50 in the U.S., sales forecast declines.

Driven by the expansion of AI data centers, which has pushed up memory costs, Nintendo announced price increases for the Switch 2 across multiple countries, with the US version rising to USD 499.99. Due to a sharp increase in supply chain costs of approximately 100 billion yen and potential tariff pressures, the company lowered its sales forecast for the current fiscal year to 16.5 million units, with profit guidance significantly underperforming market expectations. Nintendo is now focusing on strengthening its first-party game portfolio to alleviate operational pressures.

wallstreetcnMay 8 18:08

Gift HD---Preliminary Sales Report for April of the Fiscal Year Ending October 2026 (Directly Operated Stores)

Gift Holdings <9279> announced on the 8th a sales flash report for its directly operated stores for April of the fiscal year ending October 2026. Total sales across all stores for April increased by 24.2% compared to the same month last year, while same-store sales (all operating days) rose by 4.1% year-on-year. Same-store sales excluding renovated stores increased by 3.2% compared to the same month last year. The number of stores grew by 43 from the previous year, reaching 285 stores. No stores were closed due to renovation work, whereas three stores had been temporarily closed for renovations in the same month last year.

Fisco JapanMay 8 17:47

No one dares to lend 10 billion USD; SoftBank's OpenAI guarantee-backed loan target has been lowered to 6 billion.

SoftBank's billion-dollar financing plan, backed by OpenAI equity, has encountered a major setback, with the loan target size being slashed from $10 billion to $6 billion. The crux of the issue lies in lenders' inability to determine a reasonable valuation for this privately held AI giant. Meanwhile, OpenAI's repeated failure to meet sales targets and the missed ChatGPT user milestones have deepened external concerns.

wallstreetcnMay 8 16:51

WSCope aims to reduce its deficit through the expansion of its battery business, with further attention on the growth of its new materials segment.

Double Scope <6619> is a materials manufacturer specializing in the production and sales of separators for lithium-ion secondary batteries. The company has established a mass-production system centered around its South Korean subsidiary and has grown with a focus on the electric vehicle (EV) market. It is currently expanding its business into energy storage systems (ESS) and ion exchange membranes (functional membranes that allow only specific ions to pass through), aiming to transform its business portfolio. The group includes W-SCOPE KOREA (WSK) and W-SCOPE.

Fisco JapanMay 8 15:59

Zojirushi --- Enhancing profitability through a high value-added strategy, with overseas restructuring as the key to growth.

Zojirushi <7965>, founded in 1918, is a leading manufacturer of household products with a top market share in Japan for rice cookers and other cooking appliances. The company also offers a range of lifestyle products such as stainless steel bottles and humidifiers, building its business around product lines closely tied to 'food' and 'living.' Its primary markets are Japan, North America, China, and Taiwan, with overseas sales accounting for approximately 35% of its revenue. Competitors include Panasonic, Tiger Corporation, and Thermos, with Zojirushi particularly excelling in the rice cooker

Fisco JapanMay 8 15:47

Profit-taking emerged as a reaction to the sharp rise, but declines remained limited.

The Nikkei Average fell after three days, closing at 62,713.65 yen, down 120.19 yen (with an estimated trading volume of 3.03 billion shares). Following a record surge the previous day, profit-taking emerged early due to a corrective reaction, causing the Nikkei Average to open lower. However, robust growth expectations for artificial intelligence (AI) helped some semiconductor-related stocks, which had opened weak, turn positive quickly. As a result, the Nikkei Average rebounded to 62,724.36 yen by mid-morning. Nevertheless, weekend factors also contributed to the decline.

Fisco JapanMay 8 15:39