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SoftBank shares plunge 10% amid broader tech sell-off

SoftBank Group Corp., a bellwether of Japanese tech and a prominent AI investor, saw its stock plunge roughly 10% in a broad market-wide tech retreat. The moves come as investors weigh the risks of SoftBank’s high‑velocity bets on artificial intelligence against Masayoshi Son’s repeated bullish rhetoric about AI’s transformative potential. The day’s trading was also influenced by a wider sector pullback that extended to peers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which slipped following valuations crossing the $1 trillion mark earlier in May. Separately, SoftBank disclosed the sale of a 3.25% stake in Indian eyewear maker Lenskart via its affiliate SVF II Lightbulb (Cayman), offloading 56.5 million shares at ₹508.55 each for an approximate ₹28.73 billion value; buyers included ICICI Prudential, Kotak Mahindra, and the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System. Analysts highlighted the market’s focus on near-term momentum and the potential implications for SoftBank’s portfolio strategy, while SoftBank’s leadership continues to frame the AI opportunity as a long‑term megatrend.