03 September, 2017
Japan's Nikkei share average rose to two-week highs on Thursday morning after the dollar rose against the yen helped by bright US economic data, lifting cyclical stocks such as automakers and financial companies.
Last week, the benchmark 225-issue Nikkei average climbed 238.86 points, or 1.23 percent, to end at 19,691.47 on Friday.
The Topix index of all first-section issues finished up 9.76 points, or 0.61%, at 1,617.41.
Tokyo stocks opened higher on Wednesday, recovering from the previous day's sell-off after North Korea fired a missile over Japan.
Some investors, however, refrained from making major moves as trade became somewhat directionless later in the day and opted to hit the sidelines ahead of USA nonfarm payroll data for August due to be released later in the day.
The Tokyo stock market was also supported by the dollar's strengthening on the back of the USA data's positive readings, brokers said.
The Tokyo market will likely "stay in a stable condition" if concerns over North Korea do not prevail, Suzuki added.
Mitsuo Shimizu, equity strategist at Japan Asia Securities Co., took a similar view, saying that traders will likely be on guard against additional provocations "until North Korea's national foundation day on September 9" or maybe even longer.
"However, the Tokyo market is expected to remain nervous about geopolitical factors for now", he added. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2003 to 1195 and 269 ended unchanged.
On Monday, U.S. shares were narrowly mixed as investors tried to assess the flooding damage caused by Tropical Storm Harvey, powerful hurricane to strike Texas in more than 50 years when it came ashore on Friday.
Mainstay issues, including Sony, Toyota, SoftBank Group and Fast Retailing were also upbeat on bargain hunting.
On the other hand, U.S. Crude oil prices CLc1 hit one-month lows, on worries refinery shutdowns due to the flooding could boost inventory.
Analysts expect the Nikkei to move between 19,250 and 20,000 this week.
