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.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 was 0.28 percent lower to 16,785.69 on Friday.

The Topix index closed at 1,616.62, while the Mothers market was higher, ending the session at 732.72 for a gain of 1.7 percent.

The pharmaceuticals sector was mixed.

Chugai Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4519) was 2.6 percent lower to ¥1,897 after it said it would need to extend clinical tests for a new anemia drug, while Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) gained 4.6 percent to ¥3,450 on the news that the US Food and Drug Administration approved its new blood pressure medication.

House builders were also mixed.

While Daiwa House Industry (TYO: 1925) dropped 0.1 percent to ¥1,499, Sekisui House (TYO: 1928; OTC: SKHSY) was 0.6 percent higher to ¥1,446.

In the real estate sector, Mitsubishi Estate (TYO: 8802) was down 3 percent to ¥3,290.

Consumer lender Takefuji (TYO: 8564) added 5.8 percent to ¥2,280 after it announced a share buy-back.

Camera and copier maker Canon (TYO: 7751; NYSE: CAJ) gained 2.6 percent to ¥6,270 on the possibility that it might also buy back shares.

Construction equipment manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (TYO: 7011) was 1.9 percent higher to ¥751 on the announcement that it will supply a Chinese nuclear facility.

The Tokyo equities markets were down on Wednesday after it was revealed that North Korea had test fired several missiles, but declines were moderate. Some analysts attributed the muted reaction to the tests to the relative strength of the markets, especially after Monday’s strong Tankan report and low unemployment figures from last week. The Nikkei 225 dropped 0.7 percent to 15,523.94 and the Topix index was down 0.8 percent to 1,589.97.

Japan Airlines had losses early in the day as investors feared that an uncertain political situation would make people afraid to fly, but by the end of the day JAL had gained back the losses to close even at ¥277.

The electronics sector saw declines based on fears of what the Korea situation would do to the global economy. Sony dropped 0.8 percent to ¥5,060, while Sharp lost 1.5 percent to ¥1,809 and Matsushita Electric Industrial was down 1.7 percent to ¥2,360.

Automobile manufacturers felt the brunt of investor nervousness more strongly. Toyota fell 1.2 percent to ¥5,940, while Nissan dropped 1.9 percent to ¥1,239 and Honda was down 2.2 percent to ¥3,600.

Companies that have defense-related manufacturing among their interests saw substantial gains. Howa Machinery, which makes firearms in addition to industrial machinery, gained 6.3 percent to ¥204, while Ishikawa Seisakusho, which makes defense equipment in addition to textile machinery, added 17.2 percent to ¥204. However Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan’s biggest manufacturer of defense equipment, was up by only 0.4 percent to ¥496.