Tokyo (Reuters)
The Nikkei Japanese stock index rose yesterday, making up for its losses in the previous day, as retail stocks jumped, supported by an increase in foreign visitors, and semiconductor manufacturing companies recovered after falling early in the session.
The Nikkei index rose 0.18 percent to 28,657.57 points, to close near the highest level during the day, after it started the session on the decline, and it also closed near its highest level in six weeks, which it recorded on Tuesday, at 28,698.22 points.
The broader Topix index almost took an upward trend and escaped the decline, but it closed down 0.03 percent to 2039.73 points. Chip equipment giant Tokyo Electron rose 1.75 percent and chip testing equipment maker Advantest rose 2.2 percent, each gaining 27 points and ranking second and third, respectively, among the Nikkei’s supporting stocks. The two companies had started the day’s trading on a decline in reflection of the performance of similar companies in the United States.
Fast Retailing, operator of Uniqlo clothing stores, led the gains on the index, rising 46 points, up 1.4 percent.
The industrial, banking and insurance sectors were also among the best performers on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, as the index of each sector rose by 0.4 percent.
Shares of 128 companies rose on the Nikkei index, while shares of 88 companies declined, with shares of nine companies remaining unchanged.
