The Nikkei index rose slightly by 0.2% to 50,519.41 points, following Wall Street's overnight gains. IG's Axel Rudolph said in an email that recent US economic data “showed a mixed but resilient picture.” The senior technical analyst added that at the same time, steady employment growth in the US and a sharp rise in corporate profits reinforce the view that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates unchanged in January. Among the leading stocks in Japan's benchmark stock index, Screen Holdings rose 7.4%, Sumitomo Metals Yushan rose 4.2%, and Japan Post Bank rose 3.1%.

The Nikkei index rose slightly by 0.2% to 50,519.41 points, following Wall Street's overnight gains. IG's Axel Rudolph said in an email that recent US economic data “showed a mixed but resilient picture.” The senior technical analyst added that at the same time, steady employment growth in the US and a sharp rise in corporate profits reinforce the view that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates unchanged in January. Among the leading stocks in Japan's benchmark stock index, Screen Holdings rose 7.4%, Sumitomo Metals Yushan rose 4.2%, and Japan Post Bank rose 3.1%.