TOKYO: Japanese stocks rose, with the Topix index capping its biggest rally since February, as rail companies and tiremakers advanced.
East Japan Railway Co. jumped 3.9 percent, climbing for a second day after dropping 8.5 percent in the last four days of March. Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. surged 6.9 percent, the most since November. Sony Corp. added 3.1 percent after saying it will halve its holding in Olympus Corp., which fell 4.1 percent. Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. dropped 1.3 percent after a report it will cut production this quarter.
The Topix added 1.7 percent to 1,554.17 at the close of trading in Tokyo, its largest advance since Feb. 4. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 1.5 percent to 19,312.79. The yen strengthened 0.2 percent to 119.54 per dollar.
