The Japan Thread

HONG KONG (AFX) - Share prices across the Asia-Pacific region finished
mostly higher, with Japan advancing sharply on optimism over the economy and a
pullback in the yen, dealers said.
Foreign investors led the buying spree, having placed net buy orders before
the market opened for the third straight day.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average finished up 316.31 points or 2.0 pct at
15,957.57, its highest close since Oct 6, 2000 when it settled at 15,994.24. At
one stage, the blue-chip index hit an intraday peak of 16,010.17.