Tokyo stocks hit a two-month high Thursday, extending a global rally driven by renewed hopes for US President Donald Trump's economic growth plans. Japanese shares were also boosted by the dollar's gains on the yen - a plus for exporters' profits - fuelled by speculation the US central bank will hike interest rates this month. "We had Fed speakers, one after another, basically saying it's time to hike rates," Ken Peng, an investment strategist at Citi Private Bank, told Bloomberg News.
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.88 percent, or 171.26 points, to close at 19,564.80 while the Topix index of all first-section issues tacked on 0.75 percent, or 11.60 points, to end at 1,564.69.
Trump reiterated campaign themes on his aim to crack down on illegal immigration and adopt a tough negotiating style with trade partners. But he avoided much of the harsh language he has often employed, appearing more "presidential" in the words of some pundits.
Investors took heart that Trump and Republicans in Congress would succeed in enacting major pro-growth policies, including a significant tax cut that has been the source of much of the market's upward movement since election day.
Toyota ticked up 0.06 percent to end at 6,470 yen while rival Honda rose 0.62 percent to 3,543 yen. Banks also climbed with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial ending the day 1.97 percent higher at 763 yen.
Toshiba jumped 2.69 percent to 217.2 yen after the chief of Foxconn said the Taiwanese group, which acquired electronics giant Sharp, was "very serious" about bidding for the troubled Japanese company's prized microchip business.
Nintendo, whose new Switch games console will hit stores Friday, fell 1.76 percent to 22,875 yen.
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