TOKYO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index closed higher on Friday as the yen's overnight drop against the U.S. dollar gave exporter issues a boost, with chip stocks continuing to find favor.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 115.18 points, or 0.37 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 30,916.31.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, shed 0.31 point, or 0.01 percent, to finish at 2,145.84.
Brokers here said exporters gained traction following the U.S. dollar's climb overnight to a six-month high of 140.23 yen, fueled in part by data showing weekly jobless claims reflecting a tight labor market.
Along with U.S. GDP data in the January-March quarter being upwardly revised, they added there had been no change in the predominant view the U.S. Federal Reserve will continue with its aggressive monetary tightening policy.
While exporters, reliant on a weak yen versus its counterparts to boost profits when repatriated and enhance price competitiveness, gained on the yen's retreat, chip-linked issues advanced following the Nasdaq's overnight rise.
California-based chip-maker reporting solid earnings and guidance earlier in the week has buoyed the tech-heavy Nasdaq, with semiconductor issues here following suit, market strategists said.
The market's overall gains were trimmed in later trade, however, according to Koichi Fujishiro, a senior economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute, "the strong business performance by firms that supported the Nikkei's advance is still intact."
Exporters lifted by the yen's retreat included Sony Group gaining 0.7 percent, while electronics component maker TDK ended 1.7 percent higher.
Among chip-oriented issues gaining traction, chip-testing equipment maker Advantest added 3.9 percent, following a 16-percent surge a day earlier, while Screen Holdings climbed 5.8 percent.
Tokyo Electron, for its part, ended the day 4.4 percent higher.
By the close of play, air transportation, land transportation and precision instrument issues comprised those that gained the most.
The turnover on the Prime Market on the final trading day of the week came to 3,405.83 billion yen (24.37 billion U.S. dollars). ■