Nintendo shares hit a record high on Wednesday as the company rode a surge in stocks that saw Japan’s Nikkei close at its highest level since February 1990.

Shares ofNintendoreached as high as 7,902 yen ($54), helping the company’s market capitalisation surpass 10 trillion yen ($69 billion) for the first time since November 2007.

Nintendo shares hit record high driven by Switch 2 and oil money speculation

The Nikkei Stock Average was up 2.01% on Wednesday to close at its highest level since February 1990.

Nikkei Aisa reportsthat Nintendo’s record high was driven by several factors. These include the anticipated launch ofSwitch 2, high expectations for the company’sexpanding IP business, and speculation that oil money is set to acquire more Japanese game stocks.

Nintendo shares hit record high driven by Switch 2 and oil money speculation

Although the company is yet to comment publicly, Nintendo’sSwitchsuccessor is widely expected to launch this year, after VGC reported last summer thatdevelopment kits were in the hands of key partner studios.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie was last year’s second-highest grossing film ($1.36 billion) globally behind Barbie ($1.45 billion), and Nintendo recently announced thata Legend of Zelda movie is in the works.

Switch 2 ‘likely to be iteration rather than revolution’, predicts analyst

It’s also currently in the process of expanding its theme park presence witha new Donkey Kong Country sectionat the Super Nintendo World themed area of Universal Studios Japan.

Further reading

It was revealed this week that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has recently raised its stake in Dynasty Warriors and Ninja Gaiden publisherKoei Tecmofrom 5.56% to 6.60%, according toDr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based industry consultancy Kantan Games.

The sovereign wealth fund, which is chaired by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, also owns 8.58% of Nintendo shares, making itone of the company’s largest shareholders. And in 2022 itacquired a 5% stakeinResident Eviland Monster Hunter makerCapcom.

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