Japan's Nikkei hits 3-month peak on Wall Street gains, weaker yen
Updates with prices as of 0230 GMT
By Brigid Riley
TOKYO, Oct 15 (Reuters) -Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Tuesday to a three-month high above the 40,000 level, as Wall Street's strong finish overnight and a weaker yen buoyed investor sentiment.
The Nikkei .N225 gained 1.6% to 40,232.45 by the midday break, reclaiming the 40,000 level for the first time since July 19, as Japanese markets reopened after a public holiday on Monday. The broader Topix .TOPX was up 1.14% at 2,737.
Wall Street ended higher on Monday, with both the S&P 500 .SPX and the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI posting fresh record finishes. Shares of semiconductor star Nvidia NVDA.O rose to a record close as the sector outperformed..N
In Japan, chip-related shares tracked their U.S. peers higher, with Tokyo Electron 8035.T and Advantest 6857.T rising 5.07% and 3.53%, respectively.
AI-focused startup investor SoftBank Group Corp 9984.T, whose subsidiary Arm Holdings ARM.O climbed overnight, surged 6.85%.
The three stocks together offered the Nikkei a hefty lift.
Japanese equities were also supported by a softer yen, which tends to boost exporters' overseas earnings when repatriated. The yen was not far off Monday's low of 149.98, its lowest level against the dollar since early August. FRX/
Among big export names, automaker Toyota Motor 7203.T edged up 0.39%, while tech and entertainment conglomerate Sony Group 6758.T rose 0.64%.
Along with the softer yen, which is seen benefiting Japanese firms this quarter, some companies like Fast Retailing 9983.T have set a positive tone by posting record earnings, said Sean Teo, a sales trader at Saxo Singapore.
"We might see this trend continue throughout the earnings season," although U.S. corporate earnings may face challenges due to a still high-interest rate environment, he said.
The largest percentage gainer in the Nikkei was Lasertec Corp 6920.T, which rose 7.38%.
Reporting by Brigid Riley; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Subhranshu Sahu
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