TOKYO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average
rose on Monday, tracking gains in U.S. stock futures as hopes
grew that the historic U.S. government shutdown may end soon.
The Nikkei climbed 0.9% to 50,728.56 by 0143 GMT.
The broader Topix edged up 0.17% to 3,304.35.
"Market players bought stocks as they priced in gains for
Wall Street shares later in the day, with hopes that the U.S.
government shutdown will be over soon," said Kazuaki Shimada,
chief strategist at IwaiCosmo Securities.
"Investors were looking at U.S. stock futures, which were
rising in Asian trading."
S&P and Nasdaq futures were last up 0.54% and
0.87%, respectively.
Bipartisan talks in the U.S. Senate to end the federal
government shutdown appear to have taken a positive turn, Senate
Majority Leader John Thune said, while the Senate moved towards
a vote later on Sunday on reopening the government with funding
measures through January.
In Japan, chip-testing equipment maker Advantest ( ADTTF )
rose 3.71%, chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron ( TOELF )
was up 4.36% and technology investor SoftBank Group
gained 2.24%.
"These three stocks lifted the Nikkei on Monday, but their
momentum was not as strong as last month. However, smaller
chip-related shares surged, showing investors' strong appetite
for technology stocks," said Shimada.
Chip-maker Kioxia Holdings ( KXHCF ) jumped 12%.
Semiconductor equipment maker Towa ( TOWCF ) surged 23.77% to a
near daily limit high.
Flea market app operator Mercari ( MRCIF ) jumped 14.23%
after posting a 70% gain in net profit for the quarter ended
September.
Honda Motor ( HMC ) fell 4.6% after Japan's second-largest
automaker slashed its full-year profit forecast by 21% on
Friday.
Its peer Toyota Motor ( TM ) lost 0.74% and Mazda Motor ( MZDAF )
slumped 5%.
Of the more than 1,600 stocks trading on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange's prime market, 68% stocks rose, 27% fell and 4% traded
flat.
(Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)