Nikkei Ends At 4.5-Yr High On Bullish Overseas Markets

TOKYO (NQN)--Tokyo stocks continued higher Friday, with the Nikkei Stock Average closing up 179.76 points, or 1.45%, to end the day at 12,560.95, its highest point in the day's trading.

The benchmark index closed above Thursday's close, which was already a new high for 2012 and 2013. The index is at its highest level since Sept. 8, 2008.

Expectations strengthened that stocks will rise in Tokyo in response to gains on overseas markets overnight and bullish Asian markets. A broad range of issues, from cyclical stocks to domestic demand-linked stocks, were bought, pushing up the Nikkei average.

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