The Nikkei continued to rise in the afternoon session, following the morning session's trend. It at one point rose above ¥70,000, as buying spread across a broad range of stocks.
The Nikkei Stock Average opened the afternoon session at ¥70,230.80, up ¥283.94 from the previous day, and buying spread as the morning session's trend continued. Although movements came in increments of 44 sen, the market continued to test higher levels.
(Morning session close) The morning session ended at ¥70,081.53, up ¥134.67, as buying spread across a broad range of stocks against the backdrop of higher US stocks. However, profit-taking following the previous day's sharp rebound temporarily capped gains in some areas. The TOPIX stood at 4,163.61, up 18.39 points.
By stock movement, 69% of stocks rose and 26% fell. Trading volume was 897.19 million shares, and trading value was ¥3.3927 trillion. By sector, steel, nonferrous metals and insurance rose, while information and communications, machinery, and electric power and gas declined.
(9:55 a.m.) The Nikkei at one point rose more than ¥400 from the previous day, as buying spread against the backdrop of falling crude oil prices and higher US stocks. It opened at ¥69,954.61, up ¥7.75 from the previous day, after which buying and profit-taking selling alternated and the market remained range-bound.