Tokyo: Japan's Topix index climbed above the 3,000-point mark for the first time on Friday, supported by clarity over US tariffs and a series of strong corporate earnings reports. The broad-based Topix rose as much as 1.7% to a record high of 3,038.84 before paring gains to end the day up 1.2%.
According to Qatar News Agency, the tech-heavy Nikkei share average gained as much as 2.4% to 42,033.92 -- its highest since July 24 -- before closing 1.9% higher. The rally was bolstered by comments from Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, who said the United States had pledged to amend a presidential executive order to avoid overlapping tariffs on Japanese goods.
Under a trade agreement reached between the two countries last month, Washington will cut tariffs on Japanese auto imports from 27.5% to 15%.