Nikkei surges 3.24% on weaker yen, exporters advance

Tokyo stocks gained sharply Thursday with Japan's Nikkei stock average climbing more than 3 percent to a two-week closing high and biggest one day percentage gain in six months, as a weaker yen boosted exporters and a strong performance of other Asian markets kept market sentiment positive amid eurozone debt woes.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 310.95 points, or 3.24 percent, from Wednesday to 9,914.19, the highest closing level since May 20 and the largest one-day percentage gain since December 3.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 20.59 points, or 2.37 percent, to 890. 64.

Analysts also pointed to Wall Street's rise overnight adding to an optimistic mood as well as positive housing data from the U.S. giving investors something to think about other than Europe's sovereign debt issues.


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