Tokyo stocks rose Monday with the benchmark Nikkei topping the 22,000 mark for the first time in three months as optimism grew over the phased restart of business in the capital, despite fears of another wave of coronavirus infections in Japan.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 184.50 points, or 0.84 percent, from Friday at 22,062.39, its highest close since Feb. 26. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 5.08 points, or 0.32 percent, higher at 1,568.75.

Major gainers included securities house, electric power and gas, and electric appliance issues.

In the currency market, the U.S. dollar slipped against the yen range as caution set in amid the escalation of protests in the United States over the death of an unarmed black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck during an arrest.

At 5 p.m., it fetched 107.52-53 yen compared with 107.81-91 yen in New York and 107.20-21 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.

The euro was quoted at $1.1148-1150 and 119.87-91 yen against $1.1104-1114 and 119.74-84 yen in New York and $1.1105-1106 and 119.05-09 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond rose 0.005 percentage point from Friday's close to 0.005 percent as investors sold the safe-haven debt on firm Tokyo stocks.

Tokyo shares remained strong throughout the day as the capital entered the second phase of its relaxation of business restrictions imposed over the novel coronavirus, including the reopening of cinemas, sports gyms and retail stores selling products other than daily necessities.

Chip-related issues gained ground amid hopes for a resurgence in exports after Chinese data showed a steady recovery last month in virus-hit manufacturing. Japanese data that signaled solid business investment in the January-March period also gave momentum to the market, brokers said.

"Investor confidence keeps growing with all these signs pointing to the economy getting back on track," said Shingo Ide, chief equity strategist at the NLI Research Institute.

Buying orders from foreign investors piled up over the past few weeks as Japan was on course for a loosening of social and economic restrictions to contain the virus, he said.

Still, some selling was observed in the afternoon, which sent the Topix index briefly into negative territory, amid fears that lifting such restrictions could lead to a resurgence of the pandemic, brokers said.

On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,094 to 998, while 78 ended unchanged.

Among semiconductor-related issues, Advantest surged 310 yen, or 5.8 percent, to 5,630 yen, Screen Holdings climbed 225 yen, or 4.7 percent, to 5,050 yen and Tokyo Electron jumped 955 yen, or 4.4 percent, to 22,455 yen.

Retailers also advanced with cosmetics and apparel issues notably benefiting from Tokyo's eased business restrictions.

Shiseido soared 232 yen, or 3.5 percent, to 6,802 yen while Kao rose 244 yen, or 2.8 percent to 8,891 yen. Nikkei-heavy Fast Retailing, the operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, rose 1,350 yen, or 2.2 percent, to 61,880 yen.

Trading volume on the main section fell to 1,201.68 million shares from Friday's 2,383.86 million shares.

==Kyodo

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