Nikkei closes above 9,000 as trading opens for 2009

By DPA,

Tokyo : Tokyo’s stock market ended the first trading of the New Year in a positive mood Monday.


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The Nikkei index of 225 leading stocks rose over 9,000 for the first time in nearly two months after Wall Street gained Friday.

The index gained 183.56 points, or 2.02 percent, to 9,043.12.

Japan’s benchmark index lost a record 42 percent last year as the financial crisis pummelled world markets.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues was also up 16.67 points, or 1.94 percent, to 875.91.

The dollar traded at 92.05-10 yen in Tokyo, compared to 91.70-80 yen late Friday in New York. The euro traded at $1.3953-58 after $1.3915-25 Friday in New York.

Japanese financial markets have been closed since Wednesday to mark the New Year’s holiday.

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