TOKYO, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

rose on Wednesday, as investors scooped up SoftBank Group and

other technology stocks after U.S. President Donald Trump

announced a private sector investment of up to $500 billion to

fund AI infrastructure.

The Nikkei had risen 1.48% to 39,604.71 by the

midday break. Earlier in the day, it hit its highest level since

Jan. 9 at 39,647.83.

Trump said that ChatGPT's creator OpenAI, SoftBank Group

and Oracle are planning a joint venture called

Stargate, which he said will build data centres and create more

than 100,000 jobs in the United States.

"Today's market is dominated by the news about Trump's AI

investment announcement. Investors have already shrugged off

concerns about his tariff plans and instead focused on positive

elements," said Shuutarou Yasuda, a market analyst at Tokai

Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory.

SoftBank Group jumped 9%, providing the biggest

boost to the Nikkei. Chip-testing equipment maker Advantest ( ADTTF )

, a supplier to Nvidia ( NVDA ), rose 3.94% and

chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) gained

2.31%.

Makers of materials for data centres also rose, with

Furukawa Electric ( FUWAF ) and Fujikura ( FKURF ) surging 12% each

to become the top gainers on the Nikkei.

The broader Topix rose 0.94% to 2,738.91, posting a

smaller gain than the Nikkei as financial stocks fell.

Insurer Tokio Marine Holdings ( TKOMF ) fell 1.2% and

Dai-ichi Life Holdings ( DCNSF ) lost 0.96%.

Banks fell, with Mizuho Financial Group ( MFG ) and

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group ( SMFG ) slipping 0.23% and

0.32%, respectively.

Topix's growth index rose 1.22%, while the value

share index gained 0.67%.

Of the more than 1,600 shares trading on the Tokyo Stock

Exchange's prime market, 65% rose and 30% fell, with 3% flat.