The Tokyo markets also saw significant gains on Friday as the Nikkei 226 added 1.42 percent to 18,238.95 and the Topix index gained 1.14 percent to 1,783.2.

The markets were aided by a recovery in the semiconductors sector that was spurred by comments from Korean chipmaker Samsung (KS: 005930) that chip prices will go up in the third quarter of the year.

It was also helped by a report from silicon wafer maker Shin-Etsu (TYO: 4063) that profits in its fiscal first quarter were up by 28 percent on strong sales.

Shin-Etsu added 3.9 percent to ¥9,500.

Tokyo Electron (TYO: 8035) was 3.2 percent higher to ¥9,090, while chip-testing equipment maker Advantest (TYO: 6857; NYSE: ATE) added 2.1 percent to ¥5,410 and Dainippon Screen Manufacturing, which makes equipment related to semiconductor manufacture, gained 2.3 percent to ¥943.

In the electronics sector, Sony (TYO: 6758; NYSE: SNE) was 0.9 percent higher to ¥6,410, while Matsushita Electric Industrial (TYO: 6572; NYSE: MC) added 1.3 percent to ¥2,360 and Nintendo (TYO: 7974; NAS: NTDOY; FWB: NTO) gained 1.5 percent to ¥50,400 on comments from the company’s president that its Wii games console could sell more than Sony’s PlayStation 2.

Decliners on the day included Fast Retailing (TYO: 9983). The clothing retailer was 2.7 percent lower to ¥8,000 on a third decline in its full-year guidance.

Japanese markets will be closed Monday for the Maritime Day Holiday.

Technology stocks and the banking sector were instrumental in a turnaround that saw the Tokyo equities markets gain on Thursday despite a slow start to the session. The Nikkei 225 added 0.7 percent to 15,834.23, while the Topix was 0.6 percent higher to 1,580.08.

Semiconductors-related stocks were up on the day. Advantest gained 2.3 percent to ¥12,010, while Shin-Etsu Chemical, the world’s largest manufacturer of silicon wafers was 3.3 percent higher to ¥7,430 on a reiteration of a “buy” rating from UBS, which also raised Shin-Etsu’s target share price from ¥8,000 to ¥8,300.

Other export-related stocks also gained, but not as vigorously. While automobile manufacturer Toyota gained 1.8 percent to ¥6,340 on an upgraded net profits outlook, entertainment and consumer electronics maker Sony added 0.6 percent to ¥4,860.

Banks were 0.9 percent higher as a sector. Mitsubishi UFJ was 0.7 percent higher to ¥1,460,000, while Mizuho gained 1.1 percent to ¥899,000 and SMFG added 1.7 percent to ¥1,170,000.

The consumer finance sector, however, saw further declines, as concerns persisted over attempts by the government to limit the amount of interest these non-bank lenders can charge for their loans. Acom was 3.5 percent lower on the session to ¥4,690, while Aiful dropped 5.5 percent to ¥4,330.