LIVE: Japanese shares rise on rate cut speculation
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese shares rose Thursday on buying of financial stocks amid mounting speculation over the Bank of Japan's rate cut, but overall gains were modest with exporters under pressure on the back of a surging yen.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average climbed 54.71 points, or 0.64 percent, to 8,667.23. The broader Topix index edged up 0.23 percent to 838.69.
"The Nikkei index held firm on gains in the financial sector as investors expected the Bank of Japan to cut its key interest rate" after a two-day policy meeting ending Friday, said Kazuhiro Takahashi, an equity strategist at Daiwa Securities SMBC Co. Ltd.
