The Tokyo stock market is expected to maintain its upward momentum into 2022, as a continued rebound in corporate earnings will likely offset lingering concerns over global inflation along with expectations of improvement in the pandemic situation.

Market analysts forecast the benchmark 225-issue Nikkei average to rise to as high as 34,000, a level not seen since March 1990 and an 18% rise from the closing level on the final trading day of 2021 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The downside is expected to hold firm around 26,000.

The Nikkei index advanced 4.9% in 2021 to end at 28,791.71, a third straight year of climb but a narrower gain than the 16% rise the previous year.