TOKYO, April 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

hit a record high on Wednesday, supported by a handful of

heavily weighted tech stocks such as SoftBank Group, though

uncertainty over U.S.-Iran peace talks tempered sentiment.

The Nikkei initially struggled for direction in

early Asian trade but was last up 0.5% at 59,644.37. The broader

Topix fell 0.6% to 3,747.69.

Heavily weighted stocks supported the benchmark index, with

tech investment conglomerate SoftBank Group rising 9.3%

and chip-testing equipment maker Advantest ( ADTTF ) advancing

2.2%. Together, they lifted the index by about 385 and 156

points, respectively.

"While some stocks related to artificial intelligence, data

centres and semiconductors are driving gains, the number of

stocks rising overall is not that large. That kind of pattern

seems to be continuing today as well," said Kensuke Togashi,

chief strategist at Daiwa Asset Management.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would

indefinitely extend the ceasefire with Iran, hours before it was

set to expire, to allow the two countries to continue peace

talks to end the conflict. It was not immediately clear whether

Tehran or the U.S. ally Israel would agree to the extension.

There were 42 advancers on the Nikkei index against 181

decliners.

On the flip side, Sapporo Holdings ( SOOBF ) shed 6.1% to

become Nikkei's biggest percentage loser, after the Japanese

brewer said it would exit the craft beer business in the U.S.

and sell Stone Brewing just four years after acquiring it.

Video games and entertainment company Konami Group ( KNAMF )

lost 3.7%, and gold and nickel mining company Sumitomo Metal

Mining ( STMNF ) declined 3.2%.