Nikkei surges, SoftBank jumps on Alibaba earnings

(Updates to close) TOKYO, April 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average surged on Wednesday after a better performance on Wall Street the day before and comments from Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso that the market took to suggest more stock buying by the government's pension fund. Index heavyweight SoftBank soared after a strong earnings report from its Chinese e-commerce affiliate Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. The Nikkei share average rose 3 percent to 14,417.68, extending its