Japan’s Nikkei share average extended the previous session’s gains on Friday, probing 26-year highs as banking and brokerage shares rose.
Toshiba shares firmed on news of a buyer for its Westinghouse Electric unit, reports Reuters.
The Nikkei rose 0.2 per cent at 23,547.78 at the end of morning trading, touching levels unseen since January 1992.
The previous session’s 3.3 per cent gain put it on track for a rise of 3.4 per cent for the holiday-shortened week.
Outperforming sectors also included iron and steel, up 1.7 per cent, non-ferrous metal, up 1.7 per cent, and sea transportation, up 1.2 per cent.
The broader Topix added 0.4 per cent to 1,872.03, its highest since November 1991, after it rallied 2.6 per cent in the previous session.
Advancers outnumbered decliners 363 to 239, with 66 issues ending unchanged.
Shares of Toshiba Corp were up 2.89 per cent.
The banking sub-index was 1.0 per cent higher. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group gained 1.5 per cent.
The securities sub-index rose 0.9 per cent after surging 4.9 per cent in the previous session. Nomura Holdings added 2.4 per cent.
Department store operator Takashimaya was down 3.2 per cent.
