Nikkei ends 0.91% higher on hopes for strong earnings

Tokyo stocks ended 0.91 percent higher on Monday afternoon, supported by expectations for upbeat Japanese corporate earnings. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed up 132.03 points, from Friday at 14,693.57, the highest closing mark since Sept. 27. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 6.84 points, or 0.57 percent, at 1,212. 36. Almost all 33 sectors gained led by consumer finance, metal products and real estate firms. Tire, mining and oil issues were the only decliners. The turnover was 1455.7 billion yen (about 14.86 billion U.S. dollars).