Japan to push Nikkei index higher

A Japanese Cabinet member said the government will take steps to support the upswing in the Nikkei stock index and push it even higher, UPI reported. "It will be important to show our mettle to see the Nikkei reaches 13,000 points by the end of the fiscal year," Minister of State for Economic Revitalization Akira Amari said in a speech. Pushing the Nikkei to 13,000 points would mean a 17 percent rise in the index, Kyodo news reported Saturday. The Nikkei has been on a winning streak since opening the year at 10,395.18. It closed at 11,153.16 points Friday, its highest level in more than four years