TOKYO, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index closed at its highest level since March 9, 1990 on Tuesday, as investors bought up technology stocks on the back of recent rises in U.S. stocks.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 385.76 points, or 1.16 percent, from Friday at 33,763.18, hitting the highest level since the collapse of Japan's bubble economy in the early 1990s.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 19.55 points, or 0.82 percent, higher at 2,413.09.
The Japanese market was closed on Monday for a national holiday.
Tokyo stocks soared from the start of trading, with the Nikkei initially gaining over 600 points in the morning session and close to 34,000 on buying of technology-related issues tracking gains in their U.S. counterparts. However, gains were trimmed slightly in the afternoon from their early highs, as some participants moved to lock in gains amid a stronger yen, analysts said.
Among heavyweight chip-related firms leading gains, Tokyo Electron gained 790 yen, or 3.3 percent, to 24,910 yen and Advantest climbed 282 yen, or 6.0 percent, to 4,945 yen. ■
