TOKYO, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Japanese shares closed at a more
than 29-and-a-half-year high on Thursday, as tech shares tracked
overnight advances on the U.S. Nasdaq, but worries over latest
coronavirus restrictions at home hindering economic recovery
capped gains.
The Nikkei share average .N225 ended up 0.91% at
26,537.31, its highest closing level since April 1991. There
were 101 advancers on the index against 118 decliners.
The broader Topix .TOPX added 0.6% to 1,778.25.
Telecommunications .ICOMS.T , precision instruments
.IPRCS.T and electric appliances .IELEC.T were among the top
sectoral performers on the main bourse, up between 1.51% and
1.79%.
The market opened on a weak note, but quickly reversed
course as tech-related shares advanced and investors snapped up
bargains, supported by the tech-heavy Nasdaq closing 0.47%
higher overnight.
Sentiment was also supported by other Asian peers and e-mini
futures EScv1 , which was last up 0.26%, a market participant
said.
Video games developer Nintendo 7974.T was among top 30
core Topix gainers, rising 4.6%.
Other tech shares followed suit, with heavyweight SoftBank
Group Corp 9984.T and Tokyo Electron 8035.T climbing 3.2%
and 3.3%, respectively.
As part of Japan's latest measures to rein in its highest
surge in COVID-19 infections yet, Tokyo on Wednesday urged
restaurants and bars to shorten their operating hours until
mid-December and residents to stay indoors as much as possible.
Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said medical resources
in parts of Japan are becoming strained and the next three weeks
would be critical to stopping the spread of infections.
The largest percentage gainers in the index were online game
publisher Nexon 3659.T up 7.55%, followed by Olympus Corp
7733.T gaining 4.89% and internet firm Z Holdings Corp
4689.T rising 4.40%.
Sharp Corp 6753.T jumped 3.69% after Bloomberg News
reported Nintendo has added the company as an assembler of its
popular Switch game console. Elsewhere, the Mothers Index .MTHR of startup firm shares
ended 0.39% higher, having dropped 2.1% in the previous session.