Japan's Nikkei jumps 2% as chip stocks track US semiconductor rally

By Junko Fujita

TOKYO, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average jumped more than 2% on the first trading day of 2026, as chip-related stocks tracked a 4% gain in the U.S. semiconductor index on Wall Street's opening session of the year.

The Nikkei .N225 was up 2.37% at 51,533.22, as of 0030 GMT on Monday, snapping a two-session losing streak at year-end.

The broader Topix .TOPX climbed to a record high, rising 1.7% to 3,467.13.

Shares of chip-testing equipment maker Advantest 6857.T rose 5.14%, while the chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron 8035.T climbed 5.7%.

Technology investor SoftBank Group 9984.T rose 4% and fibre optic cable maker Fujikura 5803.T also climbed nearly 4%.

The Dow and S&P 500 indexes ended higher on Friday, kicking off 2026 by snapping a four-day losing streak, while the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index .SOX surged 4%. .N

All but one of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's 33 industry sub-indexes rose, with the nonferrous metals sector .INFRO.T jumping 5% o become the top performer.