Japanese stock indices close higher

Japanese stock indices closed higher at the close of trading on Wednesday.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange reported that the 225-issue Nikkei index ended the session up 0.55%, or 209.68 points, to 38,421.19, extending its gains for the fourth consecutive session.

The broader Topix index closed marginally higher, up 0.09%, or 2.48 points, to 2,788.72.

Shares of chipmaker Sumco led the gains, rising 10.51%, or 104 yen, to 1,094 yen, while Tokyo Electron rose 4.80%, or 1,140 yen, to 24,880 yen. Regarding the exchange rate, the US currency rose against its Japanese counterpart by approximately 0.2% to 145.14 yen in morning trading, while the yield on 10-year Japanese government bonds fell by one basis point to 1.461%.