INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Japanese shares rose to their highest level in over a week on Friday as the safe-haven yen eased on hopes of progress in US-China trade
talks.
Sentiment was also buoyed by a sharp jump in Seven - I Holdings, the country's largest convenience store operator, after it announced
a massive restructuring plan.
The benchmark Nikkei average ended up 1.2 per cent at 21,798.87 points, its highest closing since Oct
For the week, it was up 1.8 per cent, its first gain in three weeks.
The broader Topix added 0.9 per cent to 1,595.27, also marking its
highest close in 1-1/2-weeks.
Top US and Chinese negotiators wrapped up a first day of trade talks in more than two months on Thursday, as
business groups expressed optimism the two sides might be able to de-escalate a trade war and delay a US tariff hike scheduled for next
week.
US President Donald Trump told reporters that his team had a "very, very good negotiation" with China, and reiterated his plans to
meet with Liu at the White House on Friday.
Disruptions to global supply chains caused by the trade dispute, and the resulting drag on
global demand, have weighed heavily on other export-reliant Asian economies such as Japan's.
Improved risk appetite pushed the safe-haven
yen lower to 108.13 per dollar, its weakest since Oct
1, provided a tailwind for Japanese exporters.
Toyota Motor rose 2.3 per cent and Mitsubishi Motor 2.2 per cent gained, while Panasonic
firmed 1.9 per cent.
As the retail sector's June-August earnings season got under way in Japan, notable movers include Seven - I Holdings
and Fast Retailing.
Seven - I jumped 4.9 per cent to its highest since late March after the convenience store operator announcing
restructuring plans, including job cuts and store closures.
Nikkei-heavyweight Fast Retailing Co climbed 2.6 per cent as the operator of
Uniqlo chain booked a record annual profit for a third consecutive year on strong sales in China and forecast further growth in the current
business year through August.
Bucking the trend, Yaskawa Electric Corp, a bellwether for manufacturing trends, dropped 0.7 per cent after
the motor and factory-robot maker slashed its full-year operating profit forecast.
Despite rising optimism about the US-China trade talks,
traders are reluctant to take positions ahead of the conclusion of the latest negotiations and a long weekend, market players
said.
Financial markets in Japan will be closed on Monday for a public holiday.