TOKYO, April 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

climbed more than 1% on Monday as investors scooped up

beaten-down stocks on the dip, with risk sentiment running high

after markets caught the tailwind from a bounce on Wall Street.

The Nikkei was up 1.4% at 39,517.81 by the midday

break, while the broader Topix rose 1.2% to 2,735.20.

The Nikkei hit an all-time high of 41,087.75 on March 22,

although the index has struggled to keep above 40,000 points,

posting two consecutive weekly losses.

Last week, the benchmark index saw its worst weekly

performance since December 2022 as U.S. stocks slipped and

profit-taking kicked in. The risk of currency intervention by

Japanese authorities also weighed on the market.

Still, the Nikkei has gained 16.5% year-to-date, while

analysts appeared to dismiss recent declines as signs of a

larger reversal.

"It really is still a constructive bull pattern," said Tony

Sycamore, a market analyst at IG.

"That we've had a bit of a pullback I think reflects the

fact that we're just starting to see the market in this holding

pattern around dollar/yen."

The dollar last traded around 151.71 yen.

Local investors tracked Wall Street's upbeat performances on

Friday following U.S. job growth figures that exceeded

forecasts.

Concerns over the Middle East crisis also eased, with no

further deterioration in the situation in Gaza over the weekend.

Gains were widespread in the morning session on Monday, with

189 of the Nikkei's 225 constituents advancing versus 33

declining, and many of the index heavyweights rallied.

Uniqlo parent firm Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ) climbed 2.1%,

adding 90 index points to the Nikkei's 526-point gain.

Chip-making equipment giant Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) gave another

59 points, rising 1.6%.

Shares of staffing agency and publisher Recruit Holdings ( RCRRF )

gained 3.5%.

The largest percentage gainers were chip-related firm

Socionext Inc ( SOCNF ), up 8%, followed by computer maker

Fujitsu ( FJTSF ) gaining 6%.