TOKYO: Japanese stocks surged Monday, spurred by hopes that major governments will step up efforts to bolster their economies. The benchmark Nikke i 225 stock average closed up 411.54 points, or 5.2 percent, at 8,329.05 after buying accelerated in the afternoon. The broader Topix index added 3.3 percent to 812.08. Investors brushed off news that American employers cut 533,000 jobs in November _ the most in 34 years _ and instead focused on a likely rescue of Detroit's ailing automakers and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's pledge to implement a comprehensive economic stimulus plan. Monday's rise, however, does not necessarily signal a solid turnaround in sentiment, said Mitsushige Akino, chief fund manager at Ichiyoshi Investment Management in Tokyo. Trading volumes were strikingly low and markets remain vulnerable to volatility as nervous investors stay on the sidelines, he said. ``If sentiment cools down, (the Nikkei) will just fall again,'' Akino said. Automakers were among the day's big winners, with Honda Motor Co. up 5 percent at 1,736 yen and Toyota Motor Corp adding 3 percent to 2,730 yen. Major tire maker Bridgestone Corp. rose 6.5 percent to 1,466 yen after oil prices fell to four-year lows last week. Crude prices jumped to near $43 a barrel in Asia after OPEC's president suggested the group could surprise investors with a large production cut later this month. The contract fell nearly $3 Friday to settle at $40.81. Shares of trading house Mitsubishi Corp. and retailer Aeon Co. surged following media reports of a capital and business tie-up between the two companies. Aeon jumped 6.3 percent to 880 yen, and Mitsubishi soared 8.5 percent to 1,093 yen. In currencies, the dollar strengthened to 93.19 yen from 92.77 yen late Friday. The euro stood at $1.2800 from $1.2717.

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