Advantest shares jump as AI chip demand drives earnings outlook upgrade

What happened: Advantest raised its full-year earnings forecast, citing stronger-than-expected demand for equipment used to test AI chips, and shares jumped. Key numbers: Shares rose 7.3% to 3,7480 yen, after climbing as much as 9.1% earlier. Why it matters: Advantest said demand for testing high-performance AI semiconductors was expanding faster than expected as data centre investment increased, and it expects the semiconductor tester market to reach a record high as demand for AI inference chips grows. The share move helped lift Japan's Nikkei share average.

Advantest raised its full-year earnings forecast, citing stronger-than-expected demand for equipment used to test AI chips, and shares jumped.

Advantest said demand for testing high-performance AI semiconductors was expanding faster than expected as data centre investment increased, and it expects the semiconductor tester market to reach a record high as demand for AI inference chips grows. The share move helped lift Japan's Nikkei share average.