Tokyo Stocks End Higher; Market Stumped By Abe Assassination

Tokyo stocks ended marginally higher on Friday, as gains on reduced fears about the US Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes were partly offset by news that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed by a gunman, Mainichi Japan reported.

Photo Insert: The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed at 26,517.19, up 26.66 points, or 0.10 percent, from Thursday.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed at 26,517.19, up 26.66 points, or 0.10 percent, from Thursday. The Topix index as a whole concluded 5.10 points, or 0.27 percent, higher at 1,887.43.

Gainers in the top-tier Prime Market included maritime transportation, mining, and nonferrous metals, according to Kyodo News.

According to traders, the US dollar momentarily slipped into the lower 135-yen level in the afternoon, from around the 136-yen range, as investors sought the Japanese currency following the attack on Abe.

"There was speculation that the influence of Abe, who has promoted large-scale monetary easing, would weaken, leading to a firmer yen versus the dollar," a dealer said.

At 5 p.m. Thursday, the dollar was worth 135.83-85 yen in Tokyo, compared to 135.95-136.05 yen in New York and 136.11-14 yen in Tokyo.

The euro was trading at $1.0108-0110 and 137.30-34 yen in New York, $1.0156-0166 and 138.11-21 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon, and $1.0191-0193 and 138.72-76 yen in New York. The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield remained steady from Thursday's close of 0.245 percent.

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