The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 0.8% to 17,667.33 (trading range: 17,538.34 – 17,706.85). The strength of the Dow Jones certainly helped, but overall, there was no real new positive information for the bulls to try and take the Nikkei higher. The Dow meanwhile, has been up what seems like everyday over the past couple weeks and is in record territory again. The S&P 500 is also not far off its all-time high set back in 2000. The same however, cannot be said about the N225. Anyway, TOPIX 1st Section rose 0.85% to 1,730.71 (range: 1,715.31 – 1,732.48). TOPIX advancers outpaced decliners: 1,228 x 377 (124 unchanged). 30 of 33 TOPIX sectors posted gains. Still no love for the smaller caps and micro caps, as TOPIX 2nd Section, JASDAQ, MOTHERS and HERCULES all hit new calendar year lows. N225 futures in Osaka added 0.3% to 17,660 (range: 17,550 – 17,730).
