(Adds comments, updates with closing prices)

By Junko Fujita

TOKYO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

rose on Wednesday, extending gains after SoftBank Group trimmed

losses, while Sony Group ( SONY ) helped the broader Topix to close at a

fresh high on a robust annual profit forecast.

The Nikkei closed 0.43% higher at 51,063.31 in

choppy trade. The broader Topix jumped 1.14% to a record

high close of 3,359.33.

SoftBank Group ended 3.46% lower, after falling

10%, as the technology investor disclosed its sale of Nvidia ( NVDA )

stake for $5.8 billion.

Heavyweight chip-related shares fell, with Advantest ( ADTTF )

and Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) down 0.23% and 1.55%,

respectively.

"SoftBank Group pared losses, while investors bought stocks

across various sectors, which helped the Nikkei to end higher,"

said Shota Sando, market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence

Laboratory.

TDK, maker of electronic components, jumped 4.92%

to become the biggest source of the Nikkei's gains, while

drugmaker Chugai Pharmaceutical ( CHGCF ) rose 4.37%.

Mitsui Kinzoku ( XZJCF ), a maker of materials for

AI-data centres, surged 23.27% after raising its annual profit

forecast by 75%.

"The optimism surrounding artificial

intelligence-related shares is still alive as investors scooped

up AI-related shares with strong outlook," said Hitoshi Asaoka,

chief strategist at Asset Management One.

Sony ( SONY ) rose 3.67% after the game and audio equipment

maker raised its operating profit forecast for the year ending

March 2026 by 8%.

Bank shares rose, with Mitsubishi Financial Group

and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group ( SMFG ) gaining 3.38% and

1.95%, respectively.

Of the more than 1,600 stocks trading on the Tokyo Stock

Exchange's prime market, 78% rose, 19% fell and 2% traded flat.

Sumco ( SUMCF ) tanked 20.16% to become the biggest

percentage loser on the Nikkei, after the silicon producer

forecast a 16.9 billion yen annual net loss, bigger than

analysts' expectations of a 5.2 billion yen loss.