Nikkei rises to 6-month high, chip-related shares lead gains

  • Reuters
  • Stock Market News
Nikkei rises to 6-month high, chip-related shares lead gains
Credit: © Reuters.

By Hideyuki Sano

TOKYO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average scaled a near six-month high on Thursday, driven by strong gains in semiconductor-related stocks, with investors sticking to hopes that Washington will deliver stimulus even as talks between U.S. lawmakers stall.

The Nikkei .N225 rose above its July 9 peak to hit its highest level since Feb. 21, almost fully recovering from its decline since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. By midday, it was up 1.88% at 23,272.34.

The broader Topix .TOPX rose 1.10% to 1,623.18, closing in on its June peak.

"Looking at various data, the prospects of a recovery in the global manufacturing sector are getting solid," said Takuya Hozumi, global investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS ) Securities.

Investors also clung to hopes for more fiscal stimulus out of the United States despite a lack of any signs of progress in the talks between the White House and Democrats. related shares advanced on hopes for more chip demand related to new technologies, such as 5G communication, after strong gains in global peers.

Chip-making machine maker Tokyo Electron 8035.T rose 3.3% while Murata Manufacturing 6981.T , manufacturer of capacitors and other electronic parts, added 2.7%.

Precision machine makers .IPRCS.T were the top performer among the 33 Topix industry subindexes. Olympus 7733.T jumped 3.3% to a record high, while Terumo 4543.T rose 3.8%.

Pan Pacific International Holdings 7532.T jumped 8.3% following brisk earnings growth and a dividend hike, while Secom 9735.T rose 4.9% after consensus-beating earnings.

Dai-ichi Life Holding 8750.T gained 2.5% on a share buyback plan.

Some value-oriented shares, many of which are battling sinking demand due to the pandemic, gave into profit-taking after strong gains so far this month.

Nippon Steel 5401.T , which had risen more than 20% so far this month, fell 2.5%.

Topix value .TOPXV rose just 0.5%, trailing 1.5% gains in Topix growth .TOPXG

(Editing by Aditya Soni)

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