Nikkei 225 rises as Advantest and SoftBank lift AI stocks before Nvidia earnings

Japan's Nikkei 225 reversed early losses on Wednesday, rising approximately 0.6% to 66,271 by midday, driven by Advantest and SoftBank Group while investors awaited Nvidia's quarterly earnings. Advantest climbed about 2.7% and SoftBank gained roughly 2.6%, contributing over 300 points to the index. Lower oil prices and falling US Treasury yields eased pressure on growth stocks, with Brent crude dropping over 2% toward $86 per barrel. Nvidia's results, expected after the US market close, are seen as a key test for Japan's AI sector. Analysts note that disappointing guidance could trigger a broad selloff among AI-related stocks, while strong performance may attract further investment.