The Nikkei Stock Average closed the morning session on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on the 26th at 66,227.55, up 371.12 yen, or 0.56%, from the previous day. The market carried over momentum from the rise in U.S. stocks on the 25th as excessive caution over the Middle East situation eased. Buying spread across a broad range of Tokyo-listed shares, led by blue-chip stocks, while the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) rose 24.77 points to 4,118.44, outperforming the Nikkei. Banks, securities firms and pharmaceutical companies advanced, and TOPIX's strength helped trigger short-covering in Nikkei futures and related instruments after the Nikkei initially fell more than 400 yen. The market opened at 65,604.49, down 251.94 yen, with semiconductor-related and other high-tech stocks weighing on the index. As concerns over escalating Middle East fighting receded and crude oil prices and U.S. interest rates fell, some AI-related stocks rebounded. A strategist at a major securities firm said there was no clear negative catalyst for AI-related names and that profit-taking ahead of Nvidia's earnings was likely responsible for their weakness. About 70% of Prime Market stocks rose, although trading-value growth was slower than the previous day and some participants said a wait-and-see stance remained strong.