The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.7% to above 50,980, while the broader Topix Index gained 0.6% to 3,405 on Wednesday, marking a third straight session of gains as the yen extended its decline. The currency weakened even after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda signaled the central bank is getting closer to achieving its inflation target, suggesting a potential near-term rate hike. A softer yen improves the profit outlook for export-heavy Japanese industries and makes domestic assets more attractive to foreign investors. Markets also positioned for an expected US Federal Reserve rate cut later today, with attention centered on guidance for next year. Gains were broad-based, led by SoftBank Group (0.8%), Fanuc (4.4%), Tokyo Electron (1.3%), Kawasaki Heavy (4.3%) and Tokyo Electric Power (2.1%).