Tokyo's Nikkei snaps losing streak

TOKYO: Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei index closed up more than 1.1 percent on bargain-hunting Thursday, snapping a four-day losing streak as investors shrugged off North Korea's launch of two suspected ballistic missiles.

The Nikkei 225 rose 1.14 percent, or 324.36 points, to 28,729.88, while the broader Topix index gained 1.40 percent, or 26.97 points, to 1,955.55.

"Investors bought back shares, targeting those which fell sharply for the past few days," said Yoshihiro Okumura of Chibagin Asset Management.

Ahead of the opening bell, North Korea fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, in its first substantive provocation of the new US administration of Joe Biden.

"But players did not take the news as a trading factor," Okumura told AFP.

The Tokyo Olympics torch relay kicked off Thursday, a year late and without spectators at the launch, heralding a major step towards the start of the coronavirus-delayed Games on July 23.

"It's good news but the market is more concerned about the fate of the Olympics themselves," Okumura said.

The dollar traded at 108.94 yen in Asian trade against 108.71 yen in New York late Wednesday.

In Tokyo trading, chip manufacturer Renesas jumped 2.94 percent to 1,190 yen as investors bought back its shares, which had plunged following a factory fire that could worsen a global semiconductor shortage.

Toyota, which announced a capital tie-up with Isuzu for autonomous trucks on Wednesday, rose 0.45 percent to 8,157 yen.

Advertising giant Dentsu, which is heavily involved in organising the Tokyo Olympics, gained 1.10 percent to 3,660 yen.

But Sony edged down 0.08 percent to 11,215 yen and Nintendo lost 1.31 percent to 62,310 yen.