TOKYO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Japan's key stock index rose for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday as optimism over a potential U.S. interest rate cut spurred buying in Japanese equities.
The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, went up 556.50 points, or 1.3 percent, to close at 43,274.67.
Gains in high-priced shares such as Fast Retailing, as well as economically sensitive machinery stocks, lifted the market.
Buying by overseas funds, especially in stock index futures, added momentum. Semiconductor-related shares such as Advantest surged following strong interest in U.S. tech stocks the previous day, while electronics parts makers like TDK also gained.
The broader Topix index closed up 25.54 points, or 0.83 percent, at 3,091.91, briefly surpassing 3,100 in the afternoon session.
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, advancers numbered 946, decliners 611, and 65 issues were unchanged. ■