Japan’s Nikkei closes higher, supported by strong earnings data for US companies

Japanese stocks closed higher on Wednesday, tracking gains made by Wall Street after US companies reported strong financial results.

The Nikkei index rose 0.37 percent and remained significantly higher than a basic sentiment level of 27,000 points throughout the day, without any indications of the volatile trading witnessed in the previous session.

The index closed at 27257.38 points.

The broader Topix index rose 0.19 percent.

As for the shares of the 225 companies listed on the Nikkei, it rose 143, 77 fell, and five settled.

SoftBank Group was the strongest performer over the Nikkei, which rose 3.72 percent.

Shares of utilities sector companies rose 2.15 percent, topping the sectors’ rise.

Credit Saison was the biggest loser, down 7.07 percent, after a fund announced a reduction in its stake in the company that provides financing services.