TOKYO – Tokyo stocks closed marginally higher today, supported by optimism over coronavirus vaccines and revived stimulus talks in the US.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index inched up 0.05%, or 13.44 points, to end at 26,800.98, while the broader Topix index advanced 0.32%, or 5.59 points, to 1,773.97.
“The Nikkei index opened higher following gains on US shares, but investors were cautious with the index approaching 27,000,” said Okasan Online Securities in a commentary.
Investors are also awaiting the release of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book later in the day for an update on the state of the US economy, said Tapas Strickland, senior analyst at National Australia Bank.
Wall Street provided a healthy lead, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both ending at record highs.
Markets are cheered by the revival of efforts on Capitol Hill to enact a fiscal package to support the coronavirus-ravaged economy, with a bipartisan group of lawmakers offering a US$908 billion (RM3.7 trillion) compromise.
In Tokyo, carmakers are higher, with Toyota climbing 0.86% to ¥7,079 (RM275.93), Honda jumping 5.08% to ¥3,047 and Nissan growing 1.80% to ¥513.1.
Canon gained 3.98% to ¥1,945, while Panasonic rose 1.31% to ¥1,153.
Sony fell 1.85% to ¥9,618, while Uniqlo casual wear operator Fast Retailing dipped 0.42% to ¥87,190.
The dollar fetched ¥104.44 in Asian trade, against ¥104.32 in New York late yesterday. – AFP, December 2, 2020
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