Share prices in Tokyo closed higher on broad-based buying after further gains on Wall Street on Friday. The Nikkei 225 rose 240.02 points, or 2.9pc, at 8,435.07, after the Dow Jones closed higher for the eight consecutive session, surging 235 points to 8,521. Since the start of the rally, its longest in almost 20 years, the industrial average has gained around 13.3pc. Analysts said buying was seen in most sectors, with microchip, bank and export stocks all higher at the close. They added that gains on the Nikkei were capped at the technically and psychologically important 8,500 mark ahead of the key Tanken survey next week.
In economic news this morning, the Ministry of Finance said Japan's trade surplus rose to E936.2bn yen in February up from Y777.3bn a year earlier. Total exports rose 7.7pc to E4.33 trillion, while imports rose 4.6pc to Y3.39 trillion. Exports to the EU soared 12.5pc to Y702bn yen. ///www.fxcentre.com