The Nikkei 225 has surged, reclaiming the 68,000 level, led by a rally in semiconductor stocks. The extent of the surge is unclear, with reports varying from a gain of over 900 points to over 1,500 points, and the index reaching as high as the 69,000 mark in some reports. The rally appears to have been fueled by a US tech rally and weakness in the yen, among other factors.