TOKYO, Feb 25 (KYODO/APP): The Nikkei stock index rose sharply to mark a record intraday high on Wednesday morning, boosted by firm technology issues following advances by their U.S. counterparts.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 823.99 points, or 1.44 percent, from Tuesday to 58,145.08. The broader Topix index was up 12.45 points, or 0.33 percent, at 3,828.43.
The U.S. dollar briefly rose close to the 156 yen line in Tokyo after a report Tuesday that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed reluctance about further interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan at a meeting earlier this month with its chief Kazuo Ueda, dealers said.
At noon, the dollar fetched 155.46-47 yen compared with 155.85-95 yen in New York and 156.10-11 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The euro was quoted at $1.1791-1794 and 183.30-36 yen against $1.1769-1779 and 183.49-59 yen in New York and $1.1779-1780 and 183.88-92 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.
The Nikkei stock index surpassed the 58,000 line to renew an intraday record for the first time since Feb. 12, buoyed by heavyweight technology shares as software-related issues climbed on the U.S. market.
Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries fell after their subsidiaries were listed as among 20 defense-related entities subject to China’s export ban for dual-use items amid a diplomatic row.