Tokyo, June 29 (QNA) - Japan's Nikkei share average reversed course to end higher on Monday, as chip-related stocks cut losses after South Korea rolled out sweeping chip and AI mega-projects.

The Nikkei closed 0.15% higher at 69,468.11, after falling as much as 1.97% earlier ‌in the ⁠session. ⁠The broader Topix rose 0.47% to 3,982.

Memory chipmaker Kioxia narrowed its early loss, ending 4.5% lower. Chip-testing equipment maker Advantest fell 1.51%. ⁠Chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron rose 2.44%.

Those shares declined in early trade after the Philadelphia SE semiconductor index's 5.3% fall on Friday.

Game maker Nintendo, whose profits have been squeezed by rising ⁠memory chip prices, jumped 5.25%, while Sony Group rose 3.13%.

The mining sector lost 1.83% and oil refiners fell 1.07%. (QNA)