TOKYO: Tokyo shares rose 0.60 percent on Thursday as investors bet on Japan's economic recovery while looking ahead to a central bank policy meeting to see if it will announce any more stimulus measures.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index, which gained 2.32 percent the previous day, ended up 82.62 points at 13,926.08, its highest close since June 2008.
The Topix index of all first-section shares rose 0.72 percent, or 8.43 points, to 1,172.78.
"Today's gain illustrated the strength of the recent buying momentum on the back of expectations" of Japan's economic recovery, said Katsuhiro Kondo, an analyst with Tokai Tokyo Securities.
Thursday's gain came despite concerns that recent weak US data may signal a recovery in the world's largest economy is losing momentum.
"US economic growth data is starting to fan concerns that the economic rebound may not be as strong or as durable as hoped," said Kenichi Hirano, market analyst at Tachibana Securities.
The Commerce Department said Wednesday that US durable goods orders plunged 5.7 percent from February.
On Wall Street the Dow fell 0.29 percent, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were both flat.
In forex trade, the dollar was at 99.15 yen, from 99.51 yen in New York Wednesday afternoon.
The euro was mixed at $1.3037 and 129.28 yen, from $1.3013 and 129.50 yen.
There was also caution ahead of the Bank of Japan's one-day policy meeting on Friday, the first since it surprised markets this month with a huge stimulus package aimed at ending years of deflation.
Exporters were mixed, with Toyota up 1.95 percent at 5,730 yen while Sony fell 0.18 percent to 1,627 yen.
Optimism over exporters, however, took a hit after Canon on Wednesday announced weaker-than-expected earnings for the January-March quarter as sales of digital cameras plunged as customers use their camera-equipped smartphones.
Canon tumbled 6.38 percent to 3,595 yen.
Nintendo lost 5.94 percent to 11,240 yen on the Osaka Securities Exchange after posting a second straight annual operating loss. (AFP)
