gopalakrishna

Japan's Nikkei average rose 2.2% on Thursday to a four-week closing high as Toyota Motor and other carmakers led gains by exporters on a softer yen versus the dollar and a drop in oil prices.

Sentiment improved as a weaker yen and a slide in oil prices to a six-week low overnight eased some concerns about corporate earnings, and on hopes for a rescue plan for mortgage US finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Further gains may be limited ahead of Japanese corporate earnings which kick off next week.

The benchmark Nikkei average added 290.38 points to end at 13,603.31 - above its 25-day moving average and its highest finish since June 26. The broader Topix climbed 2.25 to 1,332.57.

A strong earthquake in northern Japan early on Thursday led a handful of companies to halt production at plants in the affected area, but one - Nippon Steel Corp's Kamaishi Works - had resumed by mid-day, and others were expected to restart soon.

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