TOKYO: Japanese share prices closed 0.64 percent higher Thursday on rising expectations the central bank will cut interest rates in a bid to shore
up the world's second largest economy, dealers said.
The market clawed back up after briefly slipping into negative territory in late trade on concerns over the soaring yen, which is seen as sapping exporters' earnings in an already bleak economic climate.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei-225 index rose 54.71 points to close at 8,667.23.
The broader Topix index of all first-section shares eked out a marginal gain of 0.23 points or 0.03 percent to finish at 838.69.
