Japanese shares are lower in early trade, led by losses among technology and chip-related names. "The profitability of AI investment is still a risk factor to monitor," two strategists at BofA Securities Japan say in a recent research report. "We also need to assess the underlying trajectory of U.S. employment," they add. Among the worst performers on the benchmark index, Kioxia Holdings is down 6.2%, Lasertec is off 5.2%, and Sumco Corp. is 4.4% lower. The dollar is at 162.12 yen, compared with 162.09 yen late Monday in New York. The Nikkei Stock Average is down 0.5% at 69386.29. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)