The Nikkei 225 and the Topix index both saw gains on Wednesday as export-focused stocks were up, but gains were limited by declines in utilities and in the consumer finance sector. The Nikkei added 0.3 percent to 16,692.93, while the Topix gained 0.2 percent to 1,639.19. Meanwhile, the Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks dropped 1.1 percent to 1,125.85.

In the retail sector, department stores saw gains but weren’t able to lift the sector as a whole. Takashimaya was 1.1 percent higher to ¥1,717, while Isetan ended 1.6 percent higher to ¥2,150. On the other hand, Seven & I dropped 0.6 percent to ¥3,630.

Exporters that saw gains included Canon, which added 1.1 percent to ¥6,540. In the electronics sector, Sony was 1.9 percent higher to ¥4,880. Sharp, however, dropped 1.5 percent to ¥2,040 on the news that it is being investigated for price fixing of liquid crystal displays.

Utilities were down on profit-taking. Tokyo Electric Power fell 0.5 percent to ¥3,720, while Kansai Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power each dropped 0.7 percent to ¥3,050 and ¥2,895 respectively.

The consumer finance sector declined after parliament passed a bill that will cut the maximum amount of interest the lenders can charger their customers. Takefuji was 1.1 percent lower to ¥4,470, while Aiful fell 1.6 percent to ¥3,610 and Credit Saison dropped 1.9 percent to ¥4,100.

The Nikkei 225 closed at 16,371.28 on Wednesday, a gain of 0.7 percent on the session and its highest close in a month. The Topix index was also higher, ending 1 percent higher to 1,615.17. Meanwhile, the Mothers index of small and mid-cap stocks was 1 percent higher to 1,116.51. The gains were largely on advances in domestic sectors.

The securities sector was 1.7 percent higher as a whole, helped by gains in stocks that have brokers convinced that individual investors will come back to the market. Nomura Holdings and Nikko Cordial each matched the sector by adding 1.7 percent on the session, to ¥2,080 and ¥1,477 respectively. Daiwa Securities gained 2.3 percent to ¥1,335.

Real estate also did well, with the sector adding 1.5 percent. Sumitomo Realty & Development was 1.6 percent higher to ¥3,790. Mitsui Fudosan added 1.8 percent to ¥2,835, bringing its gains since the middle of June to over 30 percent.

Electricity generators were up substantially. Tohoku Electric Power gained 2.3 percent to ¥2,845, while Kyushu Electric Power was 3 percent higher to ¥3,050 and Kansai Electric Power added 3.3 percent to ¥3,120.

The consumer finance sector was still on the rise. Jaccs gained 2.2 percent to ¥827, Takefuji added 2.6 percent to ¥4,770, Credit Saison was up 3.4 percent to ¥4,260, and Promise was 3.9 percent higher to ¥4,000.