The Nikkei 225 jumped 1.22% to close at 44,372 while the Topix Index rose 0.22% to 3,148 on Thursday, with the Nikkei hitting a fresh record high as an unexpected drop in US producer prices for August boosted expectations of deeper Federal Reserve rate cuts. Investors now turn to US consumer inflation data for further direction. Domestically, surveys showed business sentiment in Japan improved in the third quarter, supported by a sharp rebound in exports as firms front-loaded shipments to the US ahead of newly imposed 15% blanket tariffs. Separate data showed producer prices rose 2.7% year-on-year in August, accelerating from a revised 2.5% gain in July. Technology stocks led the advance, with strong gains from SoftBank Group (10%), Advantest (4.4%) and Disco (6.5%). Other index heavyweights also gained, including Fujikura (2.6%) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (2%).