Tokyo - Japanese shares rose Thursday following modest gains on Wall Street as expectations of economic stimulus measures helped improve investor sentiment.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 122.14 points, or 1.32 per cent, to close at 9,362.68 while the broader Topix index was up 8.75 points, or 1.05 per cent, at 843.98.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan is expected to meet with Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa next week to discuss the appreciation of the yen and related issues.
Investors expected Japanese leaders to hammer out economic stimulus measures.
As concerns about the US economic recovery grew, the dollar fell against the yen, dipping into upper-84-yen territory a week ago, the lowest in 15 years.
On currency markets at 3 pm (0600 GMT), the dollar traded at 85.74-77 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 85.47-48 yen.
The euro traded at 1.2815-2818 dollars, down from 1.2844-2845 dollars Wednesday, and at 109.86-89 yen, up from 109.78-82 yen.
