Japan stocks rise as chipmakers lead the market higher

Japan's stock market ended higher on Thursday, with the Nikkei 225 Index rising 0.71% to 61,867, breaking a two-day losing streak. The gains were driven by strong buying in semiconductor stocks after Advantest raised its annual profit forecast, supported by solid demand for artificial intelligence-related chips.

Advantest shares surged more than 10% after the company increased its operating profit outlook by 35%, boosting investor confidence in the semiconductor sector. The positive sentiment spread to other technology and AI-related companies, including Kioxia Holdings, Tokyo Electron, Murata Manufacturing, Ibiden, and Hitachi, all of which posted gains.

However, the broader market was weighed down by weakness in some large-cap stocks. SoftBank Group fell 2.7% after its subsidiary Arm Holdings dropped nearly 6% in after-hours trading following a weaker-than-expected sales forecast. Financial and consumer stocks also underperformed, with Mitsubishi UFJ, Toyota Motor, and Fast Retailing ending the day lower.

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