STORY: Japanese stocks hit a new record high on Monday (August 18).
The Nikkei index closed up by more than 0.7%.
Exporters led the gains amid declines for the country’s yen currency.
That helps boost the value of their overseas earnings.
Suzuki Motor gained 10% by the close.
Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing rose over 1%.
Sentiment has also been boosted by renewed optimism over the outlook for Japan’s big firms, amid greater clarity over the impact of U.S. tariffs.
Another positive was last week’s gains for U.S. stocks.
The Dow Jones index ended the week hitting intraday record highs.
Wall Street has been lifted by mounting expectations that the Federal Reserve will soon start cutting rates again.
Japanese financial stocks did less well on Monday, however, with the banking subindex the day’s biggest faller.
Megabank Mitsubishi UFJ lost around 2.5%, with rival Mizuho down almost as much.
Lenders had risen at the end of last week, when surprisingly strong economic data drove hopes for a new rate hike by the Bank of Japan.
