The Nikkei 225 Index rose 3.3% to close at 68,957 on Thursday, extending its advance to a second straight session and reaching its highest level in six weeks. Technology and artificial intelligence-related shares led the gains after Micron Technology issued an upbeat revenue forecast for the current quarter, pointing to sustained demand for AI memory chips. Japanese semiconductor and AI-linked stocks outperformed as investors focused on the country's role in the global AI buildout. Lasertec rose 11.1%, while Advantest gained 9.8%, Murata Manufacturing climbed 8.4%, Taiyo Yuden added 8.3% and Kioxia increased 5.6%. Nidec dropped 10.8% after its auditor declined to issue an opinion on the motor maker's long-awaited financial statements. Separate central bank data showed manufacturing sentiment in the third quarter reached its highest level in more than eight years, while overall business conditions improved to their most favorable levels in decades.