Japanese shares edged up in choppy trade on Wednesday as gains in chip stocks and other exporters got a boost from steady dollar-yen levels.
The Nikkei gained 0.3 per cent to 21,979.91 in midmorning trade, after dipping in negative territory.
The dollar edged up 0.1 per cent to 107.41 yen, having bounced from a 15-month low of 105.545 yen set on Friday, reports Reuters.
Chip machine makers outperformed, with Advantest Corp surging 2.8 per cent and Tokyo Electron soaring 1.7 per cent.
Sony Corp rose 1.2 per cent, Honda Motor gained 1.3 per cent and TDK Corp surged 2.3 per cent.
Insurance, securities and banking sectors were the three worst performers on the board.
Dai-ichi Life Holdings tumbled 1.8 per cent, Nomura Holdings dropped 1.8 per cent and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group slid 1.2 per cent.
The broader Topix advanced 0.1 per cent to 1,764.77.
