Nikkei reaches six-year high

Tokyo - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average ended 2013 at its highest level in six years on Monday as export-linked issues were buoyed by the yen's fall against major currencies.

The Nikkei gained 112.37 points, or 0.69%, to end at 16 291.31 for the ninth consecutive trading day of rise.

The broader-based Topix index was up 12.22 points, or 0.95%, at 1,302.29, topping the 1 300 mark for the first time since July 2008.

For the year, the Nikkei rose 56.72% and the Topix climbed 51.46%. Japan's markets are to resume trading on January 6.

On Friday, exporters traded broadly higher as the dollar rose to the highest level in five years and two months.

A weaker yen makes Japanese goods more competitive overseas and improves repatriated revenues.

On currency markets at 3 pm (06:00 GMT), the dollar traded at 105.32-33 yen, up from Friday's 5 pm quote of 104.69-71 yen.

The euro was quoted at 144.69-72 yen, up from 144.10-14 yen late Friday and at 1.3738-3742 dollars, down from 1.3764-3765 dollars.