TOKYO, April 23 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

crossed the 60,000 level for the first time on Thursday, as

SoftBank Group and other technology stocks gained and

risk sentiment improved after U.S. President Donald Trump

extended the ceasefire with Iran.

The Nikkei was last up 0.34% at 59,790, as of 1210

GMT. The broader Topix was down 0.7% at 3,718.59.

Chip-related shares rose, with Advantest ( ADTTF ) and Tokyo

Electron ( TOELF ) up 2.65% and 0.81%, respectively.

Technology investor SoftBank Group jumped 8.9%.

Fibre optic cable maker Fujikura ( FKURF ) gained 1%.

Trump said the indefinite extension of the ceasefire

followed a request by Pakistani mediators. However, the U.S.

Navy's blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect, and Iran

seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Of all the Nikkei components, 42 stocks rose and 158 fell,

with five trading flat.

(Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)