TOKYO: Japanese shares ended higher on Thursday, tracking a strong overnight finish on Wall Street, while positive data from a South African study on the Omicron COVID-19 variant lifted airline stocks.
The Nikkei share average jumped 0.83% to close at 28,798.37, marking its third straight session of gain. The broader Topix rose 0.91% to 1,989.43.
"Some positive news overseas about the Omicron has erased concerns over the impact of the virus even as Japan reported the first community infections of the virus," said Seiichi Suzuki, chief equity market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.
Wall Street staged a broad rally overnight on upbeat economic data and a South African study that suggested reduced risks of hospitalization and severe disease in people infected with the Omicron variant versus Delta.
In Japan, airline shares advanced 2.24% on hopes that people would keep travelling despite news of Japan's first instance of community spread infection from the Omicron.
Japanese shares lack direction as Toyota, retailers negate tech gains
Commodities-related shares gained as oil prices rose, with oil and coal explorers and trading firms rising 2.28% and 1.54%, respectively.
Tokyu Fudosan Holdings jumped 4.4% to lead gainers on the Nikkei after the property developer agreed to sell its Tokyu Hands home interior store chain.
Drugmakers fell 0.48%, dragged by Eisai, which tumbled 9.06% after a Japanese government panel said that inconsistent trial results made it difficult to determine the efficacy of an Alzheimer's treatment developed by the Japanese company and Biogen Inc.
Astellas Pharma slipped 0.19%, while Takeda Pharmaceutical edged up 0.58%.
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