TOKYO -- The Nikkei Stock Average climbed for a 13th straight session to a 21-year closing high Thursday, as election polls eased investors' concern about a change in government and foreign funds continued purchasing Japanese shares.
The Nikkei index finished up 0.4% at 21,448.52, the highest since October 1996. The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record high Wednesday, and investors are hoping that lofty Japanese stock prices will be backed up by stellar April-September earnings. Companies are to begin reporting their results soon.
