Nikkei 225 Breaks Above 69,000 on Strong Rally

The Nikkei 225 index in Japan surged on Thursday, closing above 68,900 for the first time. The benchmark index jumped 3.28% to finish at 68,942.53, marking one of its strongest single-session performances in recent months.

The rally saw buyers push the index sharply higher throughout the day, with the session high reaching 68,985.14 just shy of the closing level. This suggests sustained demand right through to the final bell, with the index climbing more than 1,900 points from its low of 67,081.66.

The Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan survey may have contributed to the positive sentiment, as local media reported that business confidence among large manufacturers improved for a sixth consecutive quarter. This steady gain signals continued resilience in Japan's industrial sector.