Japanese stocks close higher

Japanese stocks rose after returning from a public holiday, as investors awaited developments in the US-Japan tariff talks.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange reported that Japan’s Nikkei 225 index closed up 0.57%, or 205.39 points, at 36,045.38, marking its first monthly gain in four months after rising by about 1.2% since the beginning of April.

The broader Topix index closed up 0.63%, or 16.68 points, at 2,667.29.

The US dollar rose nearly 0.2% against its Japanese counterpart to 142.64 yen in morning trading, while the yield on 10-year Japanese government bonds held steady at 1.315%.

Sony Group was the top gainer among the top 30 major stocks in the Topix index, rising 7.13%, or 251 yen, to 3,771 yen.