Japanese stocks have hit a record for the ninth time in about six weeks, driven higher by a major transaction involving a Japanese company and on continued hopes for a rate cut in the United States.
Optimism surrounding the election of Sanae Takaichi as president of the Liberal Democratic Party has waned as uncertainty has taken hold, with political calculations becoming more complicated and her ascension to the prime ministership looking less like an absolute certainty.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index hit 48,597.08 — the new record — shortly before the closing bell on Thursday.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.