Japan: Nikkei gains for a 4th day in choppy trade

[TOKYO] Japanese stocks ended a choppy day's trading marginally higher on Friday, extending gains into a fourth day, but activity was subdued as investors prepared to go into a three-day weekend.

The Nikkei share average added 0.1 per cent to 19,879.81. For the week, it gained 1.4 per cent, posting the fifth straight week of gains. Markets in Japan will be closed for a national holiday on Monday.

The broader Topix gained 0.2 per cent to 1,603.18, with only 1.8 billion shares changing hands, lower than the 90-day average daily volume of 2.3 billion shares. The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 advanced 0.2 per cent to 14,460.70.

REUTERS