(Updates with closing prices)

TOKYO, June 27 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

closed at a six-month high on Friday, as technology stocks

tracked Wall Street's robust finish overnight.

The Nikkei jumped 1.43% to 40,150.79, its highest

closing level since December 27. The index rose 4.6% for the

week, its sharpest weekly gain since the week of September 23,

2024.

The broader Topix rose 1.28% to 2,840.54, gaining

2.5% for the week.

"Investors finally became willing to make long positions on

U.S. stocks, underpinned by positive news around easing tensions

in the Middle East and expectations for the interest rate cut,"

said Takamasa Ikeda, senior portfolio manager at GCI Asset

Management.

"Japanese equities mirrored the U.S. trend, led by stocks

which are popular among foreign investors."

Overnight, Wall Street finished higher, with the S&P 500 and

the Nasdaq just shy of record closing highs as the Israel-Iran

ceasefire continued to hold and a raft of economic indicators

appeared to support the case for the Federal Reserve lowering

borrowing costs this year.

In Japan, technology stocks rose, with chip-making equipment

maker Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) jumping 4.3% to boost the Nikkei

the most. Tech start-up investor SoftBank Group rose

2.54%.

Defence-related stocks Kawasaki Heavy Industries ( KWHIF )

and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ( MHVYF ) rose 6.15% and 2.71%,

respectively, on expectations of increased defence spending in

Japan.

Bucking the trend, chip-testing equipment maker Advantest ( ADTTF )

lost 1.07%, weighing the most on the index, as

investors booked profits from its more than 40% rise this month.

"Still, the rally on overall IT-related shares will

continue. The market is just relocating their targets," Ikeda

said.

Of the more than 1,600 stocks trading on the Tokyo Stock

Exchange's prime market, 72% rose, 24% fell and 2% traded flat.

(Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Sumana Nandy and Mrigank

Dhaniwala)