Japan's Nikkei soared to 1-1/2-week high on Friday tracking gains on Wall Street, but electronics components makers languished after Apple's conservative outlook disappointed the market.
Nippon Sharyo Ltd , manufacturer of a train that derailed in Taiwan killing 18 people last month, plunged 17 per cent to hit the daily limit low. It said it had discovered a design flaw that failed to alert the central control system that an automatic safety feature had been turned off.
The Nikkei share average rose 1.2 per cent to 21,954.61 points by the midday break. For the week, the Nikkei has risen 3.6 per cent.
US stocks rose for a third straight session on Thursday as President Donald Trump said trade talks with China were “moving along nicely,” reviving hopes that the two countries can resolve their trade dispute.
“Trade issues are not something the US and China can solve in a short-term. The market has accepted that it will take a long-time to solve,” said Toru Ibayashi, executive director of Wealth Management at UBS Securities Japan.
With the first-half earnings season in focus, Ibayashi said that the market's concern is how cautious Japanese companies will be with their earnings forecasts amid worries about the impact from the trade war. He also said that investors are looking to measures Japanese manufacturers may be taking to reduce the impact of tariffs if they make products in China and export them to the United states.
Friday's gainers included factory automation equipment maker Keyence Corp , which jumped 10 per cent and was the third most traded stock by turnover after it raised its annual dividend outlook to ¥200 per share from ¥100 per share.
On the other hand, Suzuki Motor tumbled 4.6 per cent after reporting its lowest quarterly operating profit in two years for July-September, as vehicle sales eased in China, Europe and India.
Apple suppliers lost ground, with Murata Manufacturing shedding 1.8 per cent and Alps Electric falling 1.2 per cent after Apple Inc warned that sales for the crucial holiday quarter would likely miss Wall Street expectations. The broader Topix gained 0.6 per cent to 1,642.16.
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