TOKYO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

rose slightly on Wednesday, with losses in SoftBank countering

gains in some AI-theme stocks, while Sony Group ( SONY ) helped the

broader Topix notch a fresh high on robust annual profit

forecast.

The Nikkei was up 0.1% at 50,881.59, as of 0143 GMT.

The broader Topix rose to a record 3,362.43 and was last

up 0.95% at 3,353.25.

SoftBank Group fell 5.16% after the technology

investor disclosed its sale of Nvidia ( NVDA ) stake for $5.8

billion.

Heavyweight chip-related shares fell, with Advantest ( ADTTF )

and Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) down 1.99% and 1.87%,

respectively.

"The optimism surrounding artificial intelligence-related

shares is still alive as investors scooped up AI-related shares

with strong outlook," said Hitoshi Asaoka, chief strategist at

Asset Management One.

Mitsui Kinzoku ( XZJCF ), a maker of materials for data

centres, surged 19% after raising its annual profit forecast by

75%.

Sony ( SONY ) rose 3% after the game and audio equipment

maker raised its operating profit forecast for the year ending

March 2026 by 8%.

Bank shares rose, with Mitsubishi Financial Group

and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group ( SMFG ) gaining 2.8% and

1.79%, respectively.

All but three of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's (TSE) 33

industry sub-indexes rose, with the pharmaceutical sector

rising 2.44% to become the top performer.

Of the more than 1,600 stocks trading on the TSE's prime

market, 85% rose, 13% fell and 1% traded flat.

Sumco ( SUMCF ) tanked 19.96% to become the biggest

percentage loser on the Nikkei, after the silicon producer

forecast a 16.9 billion yen annual net loss, bigger than

analysts' expectations of a 5.2 billion yen loss.