Japan’s stock market rose strongly on Friday, boosted by sharp rises in the price of domestically focused stocks. The Nikkei 225 rose 1.5 per cent to 16,339.73, with the Topix also up 1.2 per cent to 1,663.98.

Investors were initially reluctant to take strong positions during the morning. But in afternoon trading share prices surged, with investors concluding that Thursday’s comments on interest rates by Toshiko Fukui, governor of the Bank of Japan, were dovish.