In Tokyo on Thursday, the Nikkei 225 had its highest close in 11 weeks as it added 1.64 percent to 17,458.98, while the Topix index was 1.17 percent higher to 1,677.52 and the Mothers market jumped 2.87 percent to 881.81.

The gain came after Moody’s Investor Service increased its rating on Japan’s debt to A1, saying that the new prime minister will work to cut the nation’s debt.

The retail sector was higher on news and an upgrade.

Convenience store operator Lawson Inc (TYO: 2651) added 1.1 percent to ¥3,780 on its report that profits were up 21 percent in the quarter ending 31 August and after it announced a stock buy-back program.

FamilyMart Co (TYO: 8028) was up 1.6 percent to ¥3,130 on a broker upgrade to “outperform”, while Aeon (TYO: 8267) gained 4.4 percent to ¥1,863 on the announcement that it will partner with a Chinese company to open up to 30 shopping malls in China.

Shippers were also higher.

Kawasaki Kisen (TYO: 9107) was up 3.5 percent to ¥1,731, while Nippon Yusen (TYO: 9101) jumped 5.1 percent to ¥1,213.

Losers included supplies of parts for Boeing’s (NYSE: BA; TYO: 7661) 787 Dreamliner aircraft, after the US aerospace group announced that deliveries of the first planes would be delayed by six months.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (TYO: 7011) dropped 1.2 percent to ¥719, while Kawasaki Heavy Industries (TYO: 7012) was down 2.2 percent to ¥444.

With foreign buyers selling more than they bought for the fourth consecutive session, Tokyo equities markets declined on Tuesday even though news from the corporate world tended toward the positive. The Nikkei 225 dropped 0.4 percent to 15,859.45, while the Topix index was down 0.2 percent to 1,612.76.

The real estate sector was down on continuing worries that values are too high. Tokyo Tatemono declined by 2.7 percent to ¥1,162. Mitsubishi Estate dropped 1.5 percent to ¥2,245. Mitsui Fudosan and Tokyu Land, meanwhile, each lost 1 percent, to ¥2,360 and ¥857 respectively.

Retailers also lost ground on the day, declining by 1.3 percent as a whole. Among department stores, Takashimaya was down 1.3 percent to ¥1,521, Matsuzakaya dropped 1.8 percent to ¥856, and Matsuya lost 5.8 percent to ¥1,950. Seven & I, which holds convenience stores and restaurants along with departments stores, was down 1.5 percent to ¥4,010, while convenience store operator Lawson fell 1 percent to ¥4,110.

The electronics sector was mixed, with NEC up 1.2 percent to ¥696 after it said it would talk with Matsushita Electric about joining up to manufacture cell phones. Matsushita, however, dropped 0.2 percent to ¥2,490.

The Tokyo equities markets were down again on Wednesday on lower share prices in the US and concerns that recent gains in domestic stocks cannot persist. The Nikkei 225 and Topix index each lost 1.5 percent on the day to 17,162.55 and 1,742.89 respectively.

The electronics sector was down as Toshiba fell victim to two bits of negative news. First of all, US memory card manufacturer Lexar Media filed an infringement of intellectual property charge against Toshiba with the International Trade Commission. Also, Toshiba said on Tuesday that engineers employed by the company had changed test statistics for equipment for Japanese nuclear reactors. Toshiba’s shares dropped 2.6 percent on the day to ¥708.

High-tech manufacturer Kyocera dropped 4.1 percent to ¥10,480 and the electrical machinery sector as a whole dropped 2 percent on concerns about the strength of the US economy.

In domestic sectors, securities dropped 1.4 percent, with Nomura losing 1.3 percent to ¥2,685. Bankers dropped 2.1 percent, with Mitsubishi UFJ falling a larger 3.1 percent to ¥1,850,000.

In the retail sector, convenience stores had a rough day after Familymart issued a less-than-promising profits forecast for the 2006/2007 fiscal year. Familymart lost 7 percent to ¥2,580, while Lawson dropped 4.2 percent to ¥4,380, Circle K Sunkus declined by 2.4 percent to ¥2,815, and Seven & I was down 1.7 percent to ¥4,760.

Tokyo’s equities markets were up on Monday as optimism about the economy sent shares in both export-dependent and domestic sectors higher on the day. The Nikkei 225 closed at 16,391.51, 1.5 percent higher and its highest close in over a month. The Topix index gained 1.7 percent to close at 1.674.66.

Among domestics, the banking sector was up 1.5 percent on the day, while real estate gained 2.2 percent, securities were up 2.5 percent, and retailers grew by 1.7 percent as a whole. Land transport was up 2.5 percent.

Within export-heavy sectors, automible manufacturing was up, including a 1.4 percent jump to ¥7,150 for Honda. Electrical machinery also gained, with Sony gaining 1.1 percent to ¥5,580.

East Japan Railway, Japan’s largest railroad operator, was up 4.1 percent to ¥872,000.

In the real estate sector, Mitsui Fudosan gained 1.7 percent to ¥2,640, while Tokyu Land was up 4.8 percent to ¥1,068.

Among banks, Mitsubishi UFJ, gained 2.4 percent to ¥1,730,000, while SMFG rose by 1.6 percent to ¥1,290,000. In the securities sector Nomura, Japan’s largest house, advanced by 2.6 percent to ¥2,380.

The retail sector was mixed on the day, with department store chain Mitsukoshi up 2.8 percent to ¥690 but convenience store operator Lawson down 0.9 percent to ¥4,470 on profit taking.

Japanese equities markets were up on Friday, with the Nikkei 225 gaining 0.5 percent to 16,115.63 and the Topix index adding 0.4 percent to 1,647.27, with gains in both domestic and export-dependent sectors. Analysts did not attribute the gains directly to Thursday’s decision by the Bank of Japan to tighten monetary policy, but said that the move showed confidence in Japan’s economy, encouraging investment.

The retail sector gained 2 percent as a whole, while real estate was up 2.4 percent. Mitsui Fudosan added 1.8 percent to ¥2,595, while NTT Urban Development advanced by 6.5 percent to ¥971,000.

Convenience store company Lawson gained 2 percent to ¥4,510.

The securities sector gained 1.3 percent, with Nomura 1.5 percent higher to ¥2,320, while rival Daiwa Securities gained 1.1 percent to ¥1,410. Online broker Kabu.com ended the day up by 2.1 percent to ¥294,000.

In export-dependent sectors, construction machinery manufacturer Komatsu was up 3.2 percent to ¥1,998, automobile manufacturer Honda Motor added 1.3 percent to ¥7,050, and steel maker JFE gained 1.9 percent to ¥4,370.