Japan shares rise at the close, supported by the utilities sector

Japanese shares closed higher on Monday, supported by utility companies as the country continues to grapple with an unprecedented heat wave.

Overall, investor sentiment remained low on widespread fears of a global economic slowdown, with trading slowing ahead of the US Independence Day holiday on Monday.

The Nikkei index rose at the close 0.84 percent to 26153.81 points, after it fell briefly to less than the psychological level of 26000 points in the morning session.

The broader Topix index rose 1.34 percent to 1,869.71 points.

The Nikkei recorded a weekly loss of 3.01 percent on Friday, while Topix fell 2.08 percent.

The utilities sector rose 4.11 percent, making it the best-performing sector within the Nikkei index, with Tokyo Electric Co. up 12.95 percent.

Mitsubishi shares rose 3.98 percent after falling 5.21 percent last week.

And shares of SoftBank Group, the technology giant, rose 2.96 percent, after recording a weekly decline of more than six percent.