TOKYO: Japan’s Nikkei share average advanced on Thursday after Advantest’s improved profit forecast, although a looming Bank of Japan policy decision and uncertainty around tech company earnings limited gains.
The Nikkei ended the day up 1.1 percent at 64,659.47 in a volatile session that began with gains before briefly turning negative after a slump in shares of South Korea’s Samsung Electronics despite record earnings.
Heavyweight chip equipment maker Advantest drove the Nikkei’s rise, providing nearly two-thirds of the benchmark’s 705-point gain on the day.
Other chip and AI-linked shares that were down in the Tokyo morning also rose by the closing bell, with Tokyo Electron gaining 2.4 percent and SoftBank Group adding 1.8 percent.
The broader Topix index also reversed early losses to end the day up 0.3 percent at 4,003.28.