Nikkei closes higher at one-month high

Japan’s Nikkei index closed today at its highest level in more than a month, supported by increased risk appetite after a trade agreement between the United States and Britain was reached, which boosted hopes for progress in talks with other countries.

The Nikkei index rose 1.56% to close at 37,503.33, its highest close since March 27. During the holiday-shortened trading week, the index gained 1.83%, marking its fourth consecutive week of gains. The broader Topix index also rose 1.29 percent to 2,733.49 points, extending an 11-session winning streak, its longest since October 2017. “Investors are seeing April’s decline as the worst, and the environment is improving not only for stocks but also for bonds, with the prospects for a settlement in the trade talks increasing,” said Hiroyuki Ueno, chief strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management.