(Updates with closing prices)

By Kevin Buckland

TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

climbed to an all-time high on Friday, posting its biggest

monthly gain in three decades, as tech stocks rallied following

strong sales forecasts from Amazon ( AMZN ) and Apple ( AAPL ).

A weaker yen also boosted heavyweight exporters, following

its slide to a record low against the euro and the

lowest level since February versus the dollar on Thursday

after the Bank of Japan governor kept a cautious tone in holding

interest rates steady.

The Nikkei closed up 2.1% at the session high of

52,411.34, a record peak that took the index's gains for October

to 16.6% - the biggest since January of 1994.

The broader Topix rose as much as 1.4% to reach an

all-time peak of 3,348.06, before ending the day with a 0.9%

gain at a record closing high of 3,331.83.

On Thursday, Amazon ( AMZN ) reported its cloud revenue rose at the

fastest clip in nearly three years, helping the company to

forecast quarterly sales above estimates.

Meanwhile, Apple ( AAPL ) Chief Executive Tim Cook gave forecasts for

holiday-quarter iPhone sales and overall revenue that surpassed

Wall Street expectations.

Japan's chip-sector shares were among the biggest gainers.

Socionext ( SOCNF ) soared nearly 17%, while Advantest climbed

3.9%, making it the Nikkei's largest gainer in terms of index

points due to its heavy weighting.

Artificial intelligence data centre-related shares also

gained, with Hitachi ( HTHIF ) jumping 7.2%.

Tech stocks have been at the centre of the Nikkei's

relentless rally in recent months, joining a global equity

resurgence fuelled by sky-high expectations for AI.

Japan has had the additional tailwind this month from hopes

for aggressive fiscal stimulus under new Prime Minister Sanae

Takaichi.

One of her focus areas is AI innovation, meaning Japanese

tech shares will benefit from both global and domestic momentum,

according to MUFG Asset Management.

Topping the 52,000 level for the Nikkei "is just a step on

the way higher," said MUFG Asset Management Chief Market

Economist Naoya Oshikubo.

"We have more room, like another 10% rise from here towards

April," he said. "This is not a bubble."