TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei share average ended higher on Thursday as Advantest’s robust profit forecast lifted chip-related stocks, while banks pulled down the broader Topix.
The Nikkei rose 0.71 percent to close at 61,867.43, while the Topix fell 0.54 percent to 3,952.5.
Advantest jumped 10.85 percent after raising its annual operating profit forecast by 35 percent on Wednesday as AI spending drives demand for its chip-testing equipment. Chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron rose 4.48 percent. Memory chip maker Kioxia climbed 2.92 percent, while Murata Manufacturing, a leading maker of multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) used to regulate power in AI servers, rose 2.97 percent.
Shimada said global concerns over heavy spending on AI infrastructure outpacing revenue growth eased after Microsoft signalled its massive spending bets were paying off.
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