The Nikkei 225 index closed up 4.6% at 72,366.34 points, setting a new record closing high.

This rally followed a strong earnings report from memory chip manufacturer Micron Technology, which eased investor concerns over massive capital expenditure in artificial intelligence infrastructure. An analyst noted that the excellent results released by Micron after the U.S. market close have reignited market sentiment, with the better-than-expected performance boosting overall confidence in the AI and technology sectors.

Among the Nikkei 225 constituents, leading gainers included Advantest, which surged 15%, Kioxia Holdings, which rose 12%, and Kokusai Electric, which gained 11%.

The U.S. dollar was trading at 161.83 yen, largely unchanged from its level of 161.81 at the close in New York on Wednesday.