Japanese shares closed up on Friday for the third consecutive day, as positive reports from the United States boosted investors' faith in the global economic recovery, as dpa reported. At the close, the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 9.8 points, or 0.1 per cent, to end the day at 10,178.32 while the broader Topix index was up 2.01 points, or 0.23 per cent, at 879.22. For the week, both the Nikkei and the Topix gained 1,4 per cent. Investors were encouraged by overnight positive economic news from the United States, a significant market for Japan's export-reliant economy. Separate US reports released Thursday showed an unexpected 10-per-cent jump in pending house sales for October and a two-year low in unemployment benefit claims over the past month, according to financial news agency Bloomberg. Chain stores in the US also reported higher earnings for November than estimated. On currency markets at 3 pm (0600 GMT), the dollar traded at 83.66-69 yen, down from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 84.14-15 yen. The euro traded at 1.3220-23 dollars, up from 1.3161-62 dollars Thursday, and at 110.61-64 yen, down from 110.74-78.
