TOKYO, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose
more than 3% on Wednesday as AI-related stocks jumped to track
their U.S. peers, and investors scooped up stocks with a strong
outlook.
The Nikkei was up 3.16% to 65,979.02 as of 0101 GMT,
while the broader Topix rose 1.52% to 4,022.18.
The S&P 500 and the Dow closed at record highs on Tuesday,
powered by the latest batch of earnings from AI-related
companies such as Caterpillar and Palantir that assuaged demand
concerns, while crude prices and Treasury yields dropped on
hopes for a deal in the Iran war.
Chip-testing equipment maker Advantest ( ADTTF ) and
chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) rose 8% and
4%, respectively, tracking the Philadelphia Semiconductor index
's 6.6% gain overnight.
The U.S. chip index rose for a fourth straight session after
tumbling 20.6% in July.
Murata Manufacturing ( MRAAF ), a leading maker of multi-layer
ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) used to regulate power in AI servers,
jumped 8.33% after raising its annual net profit forecast.
"Compared with the past, more companies raised their annual
outlook in the first quarter, which means they had made modest
forecasts due to the impact of the Middle East war," said
Daisuke Hashizume, a senior strategist at Daiwa Securities
"A series of upward revisions of forecasts of Japanese firms
is a positive factor for overall equities," he said.
Fanuc ( FANUF ) rose 3.67% after the robot maker raised its
annual net profit forecast.
Bank shares rose, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group ( MUFG )
and Mizuho Financial Group ( MFG ) up more than 1% each.
Bucking the trend, Uniqlo-brand owner Fast Retailing ( FRCOF )
fell 1.82% to weigh on the Nikkei the most.
Air-conditioning maker Daikin Industries ( DKILF ) fell 8% to
post the biggest percentage loss on the Nikkei.
Of more than 1,500 stocks trading on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange's prime market, 67% rose, 29% fell and 3% traded flat.