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Nikkei protects all-time closing high as pharma excels

Japan's Nikkei share average scaled to tape highs for the 2nd consecutive session on Monday, supported by upbeat efficiencies in pharmaceuticals, although profittaking restricted the momentum in the market rally.

The Nikkei ended 0.35% higher at a brand-new closing high of 39,233.71. The index reduced from an all-time peak of 39,388.08 earlier in the session after the market resumed trade following a holiday on Friday.

The latest record follows the index on Thursday breached levels last seen in 1989 throughout the halcyon days of the bubble economy.

The wider Topix ended up 0.5% greater at 2,673.62.

Japanese stocks have surged on the back of low-cost assessments and business reforms, which have prospered in luring back foreign cash searching for alternatives to battered Chinese markets. The index has gained 16.8% up until now this year.

With the decades-old record-high level broken, traders were Looking for the next milestone, with the 40,000-point mark becoming a most likely target level.

The Nikkei got an increase as the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, which are carefully tracked by Japanese investors, ended at record highs on Friday.

The pharmaceutical sector outshined, with the Topix sub-index up 2.5% on Monday.

Pharma giant Chugai Pharmaceutical increased 6.37%. to lead the gains, while Daiichi Sankyo climbed 3.86%.

There's a sense that traders are selecting shares that. are running behind and haven't been bought as much, stated. Hiroshi Namioka, chief strategist at T&D Property Management.

Gains narrowed in the afternoon session as traders locked in. revenues after the current rally, with 121 of the Nikkei's 225. constituents advancing against 102 decliners.

Shares of technology-related companies, which helped raise. the Nikkei on Thursday on the back of an upbeat income outlook. by U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, retreated from recent highs.

Screen Holdings fell 3.49%, Lasertec Corp. lost 2.15% while Tokyo Electron was down 1.59%.

(source: Reuters)