Tokyo: Nikkei scales 18-1/2 year peak on earnings optimism, Greek hopes

[TOKYO] Japan's Nikkei share average vaulted to the highest level since 1996, ramping up the gains to around 20 per cent since the start of the year thanks to signs of a pick up in economic growth, earnings optimism and hopes Greece will avoid a debt default.

The Nikkei climbed 0.3 per cent to 20,868.03, rising above its peak of 20,833.21 hit at the height of the dot-com bubble in 2000. The broader Topix rose 0.2 per cent to 1,679.89, an eight-year closing high.

REUTERS