SAKURA internet Inc. <3778> surged and temporarily hit the daily limit up as investors turned their attention to the stock. Microsoft announced today that it will invest $10 billion (approximately \1.6 trillion) in Japan from 2026 to 2029. The investment will focus on AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, and AI talent development. Furthermore, Microsoft stated it has begun discussions with SAKURA internet and SoftBank Corp. <9434> on joint development of solutions to expand AI infrastructure options in Japan, triggering a flood of buy orders for SAKURA internet. SAKURA internet also announced the collaboration with Microsoft Japan on the same day. Under Microsoft's cloud platform Azure, the company will leverage SAKURA internet's AI computing infrastructure resources built with numerous GPUs (graphics processing semiconductors) to develop solutions that can be used for application layers and user interfaces.

NPC Incorporated <6255> surged sharply. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced today that the "Act on Promoting Recycling of Solar Battery Waste" was approved by the Cabinet. This development appears to have heightened interest in the company, which manufactures solar panel recycling equipment. JFE Holdings,Inc. <5411> group company J&T Environment, JESCO Holdings, Inc. <1434>, which is working on solar panel recycling, and SANIX HOLDINGS INCORPORATED <4651>, whose group company operates solar panel recycling business, also showed firm movements.

Shinko Shoji Co.,Ltd. <8141> continues its march to new highs. The stock rose for the sixth consecutive session, updating its year-to-date high. Following the close of trading on the 2nd, it was revealed that the shareholding ratio by City Index Elevenths (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), affiliated with the former Murakami Fund, and its joint holders increased from 14.33% to 15.66%, attracting speculative buying. While City Index Elevenths does not hold Shinko Shoji shares, joint holder City Index First (Taito-ku, Tokyo) increased its stake. The shareholding ratio of another joint holder, Ms. Aya Nomura, remains unchanged. According to the amended report submitted to the Kanto Local Finance Bureau, the reporting obligation occurred on March 26. The purpose of holding is stated as "investment and, depending on circumstances, providing advice to management and making important proposals."

VALUENEX Japan Inc. <4422> hit the daily limit up amid unusual buying interest. The Tokyo stock market on the 3rd saw defense-related stocks heavily bought amid heightened global geopolitical risks due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Against this backdrop, the company's stock has emerged as a prominent defense-related stock. The company provides big data analysis tools based on proprietary algorithms and consulting services utilizing these tools. It demonstrates strength in government-related business, with high achievements in projects such as technical information collection and analysis for the Air Self-Defense Force among central government agencies. As orders from the Ministry of Defense carry high continuity, expectations for the company's medium-term earnings expansion are pushing up the stock price. With a market capitalization of around \5 billion, making it extremely small-cap, and a recent significant increase in short selling via the stock lending market, short covering has helped fuel the sharp rise.

TOKYO STEEL MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. <5423> moved actively. The stock broke out of its consolidation range in the low \1,600s and showed clear upward momentum. It surged past the year-to-date high of \1,659 reached on the 27th, the previous Friday. While the company is an independent electric furnace manufacturer with top-class market share, its investment metrics remain undervalued, with its price-to-book ratio significantly below liquidation value. In this context, according to a large shareholding report submitted on the 2nd after the close of trading, Hong Kong-based investment fund and activist Oasis Management's shareholding in TOKYO STEEL MANUFACTURING exceeded 5% at 6.25%. The purpose of holding is stated as portfolio investment and important proposal actions (may take important proposal actions to protect shareholder value), and expectations for the stock's upside potential based on this development are attracting buying.

ASAHI EITO HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. <5341> rapidly gained popularity and hit the daily limit up. After the close of trading on the 2nd, the company announced it had begun discussing collaboration on trade with a listed Tokyo-based company with a market capitalization of approximately \100 billion regarding its "rare gas" business, including helium and neon, which it positions as a new challenge. This announcement attracted buying interest. The partner company is an end-user, and the company stated it is in negotiations with multiple other companies as well. Simultaneously, the company announced it had begun discussions on collaboration for the trade business of "helium and rare gas groups" with a domestic high-pressure gas sales company as a partner for trade business distribution. The company noted that the impact of both matters on its financial results for the fiscal year ending November 2026 would be minimal.

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Source: MINKABU PRESS