International News

TOKYO, (MILLAT+APP/AFP) – Tokyo stocks closed at a nine-month
high on Monday as a weaker yen lifted exporters and traders were buoyed by upbeat Japanese growth figures as well as hopes for Donald Trump’s presidency.
“The fact that the Japanese economy is in good shape is obviously a
boost for stocks,” Masaaki Yamaguchi, an equity market strategist at Nomura, told Bloomberg News.
“The yen weakening further is adding momentum to the move.”
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 1.71 percent, or 297.83 points, to
17,672.62, marking the best finish since early February. The broader Topix
index rose 1.58 percent, or 21.72 points, to 1,400.00.
Official data showed Japan’s economy grew a better-than-expected 0.5
percent in the third quarter, and 2.2 percent on an annualised basis, as
exports offset slack consumer spending.
Expectations for Trump’s administration also buoyed investor
sentiment.
“The Trump-risk has subsided considerably, with odds looking likely
for the president-elect to opt for more realistic policy measures,” said Shoji Hirakawa, chief global strategist at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.