Nikkei Surges to 65,019 on Chip Makers' Strength

The Nikkei 225 index in Japan rose by 1.38% to 65,019 on Friday, Sept. 18, its largest one-day point and percentage gain since Sept. 7.

The rebound was led by technology stocks, particularly chip makers like Advantest, which gained 5.99%, and Tokyo Electron, up 4.21%. These two companies alone accounted for about 999 points of the index's change.

The Bank of Japan had raised its policy rate to 1.25% earlier in the week, sparking concerns that it would be a hawkish move. However, investors judged the decision less severe than expected, leading to the rally in chip stocks.

The move was narrow, with only 63 out of 225 members advancing, while 161 fell and one remained unchanged. The index's broader gauge, TOPIX, slipped 0.07% to 4,091.14.