Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average Rises as US Government Shutdown Ends, Topix Posts Record High (UPDATE 1)

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
The Tokyo Stock Exchange

TOKYO, Nov 13 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei share average edged up higher on Thursday, as the historic U.S. government shutdown ended, while the broader Topix index posted a record high close on value-buying.

The Nikkei .N225 rose 0.43% to close at 51,281.83. The Topix .TOPX rose 0.67% to an all-time high close of 3,381.72, extending gains to a fourth session.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed legislation ending the longest government shutdown in the country’s history.

In Japan, chip-related Advantest 6857.T rose 4.24% to become the biggest source for the Nikkei’s gain.

Fiber optic maker Fujikura 5803.T advanced 3.16%, while peers Furukawa Electric 5801.T and Sumitomo Electric 5802.T jumped 12.23% and 7%, respectively.

SoftBank Group 9984.T fell 3.38% to weigh the most on the Nikkei.

Bank shares rose, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group 8306.T climbing 2%. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group 8316.T and Mizuho Financial Group 8411.T gained 1.19% and 2.55%, respectively.

“Investors started buying value stocks. This move is similar to what is going on in the U.S.,” said Kazuaki Shimada, chief strategist at IwaiCosmo Securities.

Wall Street’s main indexes closed mixed on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI notching a record-high close and the Nasdaq .IXIC losing ground as investors moved out of pricey technology stocks.

“Money has started flowing to broader stocks and sectors in Japan,” Shimada said.

The utility sector .IEPNG.T jumped 3.08% and the brokerage sector .ISECU.T rose 2.08%.

Of the more than 1,600 stocks trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s prime market, 59% rose, 37% fell and 3% traded flat.