Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average jumped 1.80 per cent to close at a six-year high on Thursday, on a strong performance by US markets and a weaker yen.
The Nikkei was up 277.49 points at 15,727.12, while the broader-based Topix index rose 13.96 points, or 1.12 per cent, to end the day at 1,261.04.
It was the highest for the Nikkei since December 12, 2007 when it reached 15,932.26.
Japan’s export-dependent economy was also helped by a slight drop in the yen, which touched a six-month low to the dollar Thursday.
A weaker yen makes Japanese-made goods more competitive abroad, and improves repatriated earnings.