Japanese shares rose to a seven-month high after the Nihon Keizai Shimbun News reported that Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Daiwa Securities Group are negotiating a $1.3 trillion merger.

 

The Nikkei 225 rose 80.21 points, 0.7% to 11,553.56. The TOPIX rose 0.42% and closed at 1,160.72.

 

Daiwa Securities rallied 5.26% to 740 yen.

 

Advantest added 1.54% to 9240 yen, Canon rose 0.55% and closed at 5530 yen. NEC fell 0.32% to 623 yen.

Honda fell 0,37% to 5440, Nissan Motor added 0.35% to 1133 yen, Toyota advanced 0.73% to 4160 yen.

Yto-Yokado advanced 1.50% to 4060 yen.

 

 

In the currency market, the euro rose to $1.2817 from $1.2804 in New York late Wednesday. The dollar fell to 105.60 yen, from $105.66.