Japanese shares edge higher as Trump returns to White House

TOKYO, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks inched up on
Tuesday, as risk sentiment improved after U.S. President Donald
Trump returned to the White House following treatment at the
hospital for COVID-19, easing fears over political uncertainty.
The benchmark Nikkei share average .N225 rose 0.37% to
23,399.44 points by the midday break, while the broader Topix
.TOPX gained 0.25% to 1,641.37.
Nearly two-thirds of 33 sector sub-indexes on the Tokyo
exchange traded higher, with insurance .IINSU.T , oil and coal
products .IPETE.T and rubber products .IRUBR.T leading the
advancers on the main bourse.
Investors took cues from Wall Street's positive finish
overnight when main indexes rose sharply on stimulus hopes and
on news President Trump would return to the White House after a
three-night hospital stay. .N
Trump's doctors told reporters the president has not had a
fever in more than 72 hours and his oxygen levels are normal,
but they declined to discuss any toll the disease could have on
Trump's lungs or disclose when he last tested negative for the
coronavirus. In Japan, technology and semiconductor shares gained as they
benefited from more than a 2% rise in the U.S. Nasdaq overnight.
SoftBank Group 9984.T gained 2.22% while Screen Holdings
7735.T rose 1.42%.
Stocks that outperformed included Hino Motors Ltd 7205.T ,
which jumped around 5% after Toyota Motor Corp < 7203.T> said on
Monday they would jointly develop a heavy-duty fuel cell
electric truck for the North American market. Japan Exchange Group Inc 8697.T , the owner of the Tokyo
Stock Exchange, dropped more than 2.7% after the exchange
appointed four external board members to a committee to
investigate last week's trading outage. System developer Fujitsu Ltd 6702.T , also edged 0.25%
lower as it continues to examine the cause of the incident.
Elsewhere, the Mothers Index .MTHR of start-up firm shares
rose 0.77%.