Japan's Nikkei ends higher as chip-related shares track Nvidia's gains

Updates with closing prices

TOKYO, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average ended higher on Friday after two straight sessions of falls, as chip-related stocks tracked artificial intelligence darling Nvidia higher.

The Nikkei .N225 rose 0.68% to close at 38,283.85 but fell 1.6% for the week.

The broader Topix .TOPX gained 0.51% to 2,696.53 and posted a 1.06% weekly loss.

"Nvidia's gains lifted sentiment and investors bought back Japanese stocks," said Naoki Fujiwara, senior general manager at Shinkin Asset Management.

"And it was time for making active bets after the Nikkei fell below 38,000 in the previous session."

The Nikkei index hit a low of 37,945.21 in intraday trade on Thursday, falling below 38,000 for the first time since Nov. 1. The index closed at its lowest since Oct. 25.

Wall Street's main indexes closed higher after a choppy session on Thursday, with the blue-chip Dow and the S&P 500 hitting one-week tops. .N

Shares of Wall Street's biggest company, Nvidia NVDA.O, climbed 0.5% after teetering following the earnings release on Wednesday. The U.S. semiconductor index .SOX rose 1.6%.

In Japan, chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron 8035.T jumped 2.16% and chip-testing equipment maker Advantest 6857.T rose 0.66%. Chip materials maker Resonac 4004.T jumped 4.66%.

All but five of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's 33 industry sub-indexes rose, with refiners .IPETE.T rising 2.79% to become the top performer.

The auto sector .ITEQP.T slipped 0.15%, with Toyota Motor 7203.T losing 0.37% and weighed on the Topix the most.

The drug sector .IPHAM.T slipped 0.43% with Daiichi Sankyo 4568.T falling 1.07%.

Of the 225 stocks on the Nikkei, 148 rose and 74 fell, with three trading flat.

(Reporting by Junko Fujita; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Rashmi Aich)

((junko.fujita@thomsonreuters.com;))