The Nikkei 5225 Index rallied 3.14% to close at 61,684 while the broader Topix Index gained 1.64% to 3,854 on Thursday, as Japanese equities rebounded from earlier weekly losses amid renewed optimism surrounding artificial intelligence-related demand. Strong earnings from Nidia boosted sentiment across global technology markets, while news that Samsung Electronics had averted a potential labor strike further supported semiconductor-linked shares. In Japan, SoftBank Group led the rally, soaring nearly 20% following reports that OpenAI is preparing for a public listing. Other technology-related stocks also posted strong gains, including Kioxia Holdings (7.9%), Fujikura (4.8%), Advantest (4.4%), Ibiden (14.3%) and Tokyo Electron (5.9%). On the geopolitical front, President Donald Trump said the US was in the final stages of negotiations with Iran, fueling hopes that the strategically important Strait of Hormuz could soon reopen.