Tokyo: Japan's Nikkei index experienced a notable rise, climbing more than 3 percent to reach a two-week high on Wednesday. This increase was driven by a surge in artificial intelligence-related shares, which mirrored similar activity in the US markets. Investors showed a strong interest in purchasing stocks that have promising outlooks.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Nikkei rose by 3.66 percent, closing at 66,300.44, marking its highest level since July 23. The broader Topix index also saw an increase, rising 2.13 percent to 4,046.17. This upward trend in Japan followed the record highs achieved by the S and P 500 and the Dow Jones in the US on Tuesday.

Shares of Advantest, a company specializing in chip-testing equipment, saw a significant rise of 8.77 percent. Similarly, Tokyo Electron, known for manufacturing chipmaking equipment, experienced a 3.26 percent increase. Both companies' shares tracked the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which rose by 6.6 percent overnight.

The US semiconductor index continued its upward momentum for the fourth consecutive session, recovering from a 20.6 percent drop in July. Murata Manufacturing, a leading producer of multilayer ceramic capacitors used in AI servers, witnessed a jump of 9.82 percent in its shares.

Fanuc, a major player in automation, saw its shares rise by 4.41 percent. Bank stocks also contributed to the positive movement, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group gaining 2.05 percent and 4.17 percent, respectively.

However, not all stocks followed the upward trend. Shares of Fast Retailing, the company behind the Uniqlo brand, fell by 2.33 percent. Daikin Industries, an air-conditioner manufacturer, experienced a more significant drop of 6.31 percent, exerting downward pressure on the Nikkei.