Japanese stocks jumped to a near 7-1/2-year high on Thursday as a weak yen lifted key exporter shares, while data showing US economic resilience and expectations of more monetary stimulus in Europe buoyed the risk appetites.
Also lifting the sentiment was a poll suggesting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s coalition will score a handsome win at the December 14 general election, which could lead to a fresh mandate for his “Abenomics’’ plan to revive the economy.
The Nikkei benchmark, rising for a fifth straight day, ended 0.9 per cent higher at 17,887.21, the highest closing level since July 2007.
The broader Topix gained 0.8 per cent to a 6-1/2-year peak at 1,440.60, and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 added 0.7 per cent to 13,078.27.