Japanese market closes higher, led by shippers and trading houses
The Japanese stock market closed higher on Friday after starting off on a weak note. The Nikkei index posted its best weekly gain in a month though the U.S. markets were closed on Thursday for a holiday and despite a fresh deluge of disappointing domestic economic data. The benchmark Nikkei index gained 138.9 points or 1.2% to 8,512.3, its highest close in over a week, while the broader Topix index closed up 5.8 points or 0.7% at 834.8.
