Nikkei ends multi-decade highs as energy shares shine

Japanese stocks rallied on Thursday, the first trading day of 2018, with the Nikkei and Topix pushing to multi-decade highs as brokerage and oil shares surged.

After the long Japanese New Year’s holiday, the Nikkei share average finished up 3.26 per cent at its session high of 23,506.33, its highest level since January 1992.

Thursday’s gain was the Nikkei’s biggest for one day since Nov. 10, 2016, reports Reuters.

The broader Topix added 2.55 per cent to end at a session high of 1,863.82, its best level since November 1991.

Advancers outnumbered decliners 492 to 143, with 40 issues ending unchanged.

In 2017, the Nikkei gained 19.1 per cent and the Topix rose 19.7 per cent.

On Thursday, gains in many sectors helped power brokerage shares, with the securities sub-index surging 4.86 per cent. Nomura Holdings added 3.16 per cent and Daiwa Securities Group was up 3.82 per cent.