Tokyo: Nikkei closes above 20,000 for first time in 15 years

[TOKYO] Tokyo's benchmark index closed above 20,000 on Wednesday for the first time in 15 years as hopes for strong Japanese corporate earnings drove the market higher, despite a weak lead from Wall Street.

The Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange added 1.13 per cent, or 224.81 points, to finish at 20,133.90. It last closed above the psychologically important level in April 2000.

AFP