TOKYO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher for the fifth straight trading day on Thursday, with major indices closing at fresh record highs.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 332.89 points, or 0.82 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 40,913.65, refreshing the previous all-time high of 40,888.43 in March.
The broader Topix index, meanwhile, also extended its winning streak by finishing 26.29 points, or 0.92 percent, higher at 2,898.47, its highest close since December 1989.
Market watchers here noted that as yen continues to slide against the U.S. dollar, stocks were buoyed by exporters as expectations for favorable corporate profits grew ahead of the earnings season.
Local analysts also cited growing expectations for Japan's economy to end deflation.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by nonferrous metal, transportation equipment and bank shares.
Issues that advanced outnumbered those that decreased by 985 to 586, while 74 remained unchanged. ■