TOKYO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks continued to rise on Friday as strong performance of U.S. tech stocks supported buying of semiconductor and AI-related shares in Japan.
The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, closed up 58.52 points, or 0.15 percent at 39,572.49.
Tracking Wall Street gains, the index was also supported by positive investor sentiment amid Japan's corporate earnings season. NEC surged after raising its full-year profit forecast on strong IT service demand.
However, profit-taking and position adjustments ahead of the weekend led to fluctuations during the session.
In the forex market, the yen briefly strengthened to the 153 range against the U.S. dollar in trading, weighing on the market.
The broader TOPIX also extended its winning streak, closing 6.73 points, or 0.24 percent higher at 2,788.66.
Among listed stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, 606 advanced, 976 declined, and 58 remained unchanged. ■