Tokyo: Nikkei index closes at new yearly high

[TOKYO] Tokyo's benchmark stock index closed at a fresh high for the year on Monday helped by the yen weakening against the dollar ahead of an expected US interest rate hike this week.

The Nikkei 225 closed above the 19,000 level for the first time this year, gaining 0.84 per cent, or 158.66 points, to 19,155.03.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was up 0.40 per cent, or 6.07 points, at 1,531.43.

AFP