Nikkei 225 closes 1.10% higher at 64,659.47

The Nikkei 225 closed higher on Thursday, October 29, as renewed demand for artificial-intelligence-related shares lifted Japan's benchmark index. The advance extended the recovery from recent weakness, although the broader Tokyo market was less uniform than the headline gain suggested.

Nikkei ends at 64,659.47

The index finished at 64,659.47 points, up 705.28 points, or 1.10 percent, from the previous close of 63,954.19. The closing level and change were reported by JIJI PRESS at 15:30 Tokyo time, equivalent to 08:30 Berlin time. Tokyo's cash session was therefore complete before the configured late-European reporting slot.

AI shares support the benchmark

AI-related shares were the main support for the index, according to Il Sole 24 ORE. The report said gains in AI-related shares offset declines in video game stocks and other technology companies. That divergence matters for investors: the index's positive close did not represent a broad-based rise across all large-cap sectors.

Semiconductor testing company Advantest was a notable individual driver. CNBC reported that its shares rose more than 8 percent after the company raised its full-year outlook, citing expectations for robust market conditions into 2027. The company also reported strong year-on-year growth in quarterly sales and net income, driven by demand for semiconductor testing equipment linked to AI applications.

Policy remains the next local risk

Investors were also looking ahead to the Bank of Japan's next monetary policy meeting. For the Nikkei, the policy outlook remains relevant through its potential effects on the yen, exporter earnings and the valuation of growth-oriented technology shares. The Thursday close provides a completed-session reference point, but it does not by itself establish how Japanese equities will respond to the eventual policy communication.

For further coverage of this index, visit Nikkei 225 reports.