TOKYO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index closed at a one-month high on Friday, driven by a stronger-than-expected earnings report from heavyweight Fast Retailing and eased concerns over the Middle East conflict.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 1,028.79 points, or 1.84 percent, from Thursday at 56,924.11, after briefly topping the 57,000 line for the first time since March 3.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 1.62 points, or 0.04 percent, lower at 3,739.85.
The Nikkei was supported largely by strong buying for Uniqlo operator and Nikkei heavyweight Fast Retailing, which soared 11.99 percent to log a record high after revising upward its earnings forecast for the fiscal year through August on Thursday, analysts said.
The benchmark index also tracked overnight gains in U.S. peers following news reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back its strikes on Lebanon. ■
