Nikkei hits 3-week high by midday as U.S. averts default
Nikkei hit a three-week high Thursday morning as investors were heartened by U.S averting of a default after Congress approved a bill to halt the partial government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended the morning session up 169.03 points, or 1.17 percent, from Wednesday at 14,636.17, after climbing to as high as 14,664.22, the highest intraday mark since Sept. 27.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 12.01 points, or 1.00 percent, at 1, 208.79.
Gainers were led by insurance, miscellaneous products and securities issues while decliners included the paper, mining and oil sectors.
