Nikkei up 1.4 pct; tech, chip shares gain after Intel

(Updates to midday)

TOKYO, April 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.4 percent on Wednesday, boosted by chip-related shares such as Advantest Corp (6857.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and other high-tech exporters on optimism about their profitability after Intel Corp (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) affirmed its profit-margin target for 2008.

The benchmark Nikkei average .N225 added 184.04 points to end the morning at 13,174.62, after closing up 0.6 percent on Tuesday.

The broader TOPIX index climbed 1.4 percent or 17.59 points to 1,273.56. (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)