Stock prices in Tokyo surged Thursday, propelled by an overnight rally on Wall Street, where share prices jubilantly rose on a decision by the Federal Reserve Board to keep monetary policy more or less intact.
The key Nikkei average of 225 blue chips jumped 331.01 points to 17,860.75, its highest close of the year and just shy of the elusive 18,000 mark.
"The adjustment phase on Wall Street was over following the Fed's decision, and an expected rise in New York stock prices will lead the Nikkei to 19,000 by early August," predicted Yuji Nakamura, chief strategist at New Japan Securities Co.
Brisk purchases by foreign investors was another reason behind the TSE's rise, traders said.