TOKYO, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index closed at more than a seven-week high on Monday, as the yen's retreat following reports a new Bank of Japan governor was being sounded out, gave exporters a boost.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 184.19 points, or 0.67 percent, from Friday to close the day at 27,693.65, marking its highest closing level since Dec. 15.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, added 8.96 points, or 0.45 to finish at 1,979.22.
A report earlier Monday that the government had sounded out BOJ Deputy Governor Masayoshi Amamiya as incumbent Governor Haruhiko Kuroda's successor, sparked speculation that Japan's central bank under Amamiya could see a continuation of monetary easing, analysts here said.
Under Kuroda, they explained, Amamiya was key to crafting Japan's powerful monetary easing policy aimed at lifting the country out of decades of deflation, at the time.
"Mr. Amamiya, who played an important role in Governor Kuroda's monetary loosening policy, is seen as dovish, stirring the view that he would stick to the stance pursued by the BOJ chief," Takuya Kanda, a senior researcher at the Gaitame.com Research Institute, was quoted as saying.
"The market was taking a wait-and-see stance as the government has not officially decided on the successor," Kanda added.
In addition, market analysts here said that data showing robust U.S. jobs added to the view that the U.S. Federal Reserve could maintain its hawkish stance for longer, which also contributed to the yen's decline.
"The yen weakened and the U.S. economy looks firm, which is the best scenario for Japanese exporters," Jun Morita, general manager of the research department at Chibagin Asset Management, was quoted as saying.
Among exporters lifted by a weak yen, Honda Motor advanced 1.9 percent, while Nissan Motor jumped 2.1 percent. Mitsubishi Motors accelerated 4.9 percent, while Hitachi Construction Machinery ended 2.4 percent higher.
Trading houses also found favor, after two major domestic firms raised their annual profit outlooks.
Mitsubishi Corp. benefited, surging 7.8 percent, while Sumitomo Corp. added 1.3 percent. Mitsui, meanwhile, rose 1 percent.
By the close of play, wholesale trade, mining, and marine transportation shares comprised those that gained the most and the turnover on the first trading day of the week came to 3,017.49 billion yen (22.88 billion U.S. dollars). ■