Nikkei trims weekly losses, ends 0.5% higher

Japan’s Nikkei index closed Friday up 0.5%, benefiting from lower US bond yields and a weaker yen. However, it still posted a weekly decline of 1.6%, its first weekly decline in more than a month.

The broader Topix index rose 0.7% to 2,739.13, but closed the week down 0.9%.

Shutaro Yasuda, market analyst at Tokai Tokyo, said that rising US bond yields have dampened investor appetite for Japanese stocks. He added, “The index’s rise next week requires new catalysts.”