Japanese stocks edged up on Friday as the weakening yen boosted exporters’ shares, helping reverse slim losses in the morning session.
The Nikkei benchmark closed up 0.2 per cent at 17,920.45, after touching 17,922.29, its highest since July 2007. The average has gained for six straight days, its longest winning streak since August, and this week added 2.6 per cent.
Exporter Nissan Motor Co Ltd rose 1.3 per cent and Panasonic gained 0.6 per cent. Large-cap Fanuc Corp added 1.2 per cent, accounting for nearly one-third of the Nikkei’s net point gains.
The broader Topix gained 0.4 per cent to 1,445.67, a wafer off an earlier 6-1/2 year high of 1,445.77. The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 also climbed 0.4 per cent, to close at 13,130.74.