Tokyo, December 22 (QNA) - The Japanese Nikkei index rose for the second consecutive day on Monday, supported by a weaker yen and renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence investments.
The Nikkei index climbed 1.8 percent, closing at 50,402.39 points after rising 1 percent on Friday, while the broader Topix index increased 0.6 percent.
On the Nikkei index, 133 stocks advanced and 89 declined. The biggest gainer was Resona Holdings Chemicals, which jumped 8.3 percent, followed by Sumco, a producer of silicon wafers, which rose 8 percent.
SoftBank Group shares also surged 4.1 percent. The largest percentage loser on the index was Shift, a software testing services company, which fell 4.6 percent, while Nitori Holdings, a retail furniture company, dropped 4.3 percent. (QNA)