Issue Nikkei: Points and Trade Talks

issue nikkei: Semiconductor-related firms and electronic parts makers continued to attract purchases following Tuesday's stronger-than-expected earnings report from U.S. chip giant Texas Instruments Inc., brokers said, according to The Japan Times. Investor sentiment was also lifted by hopes for progress in U.S.-China trade talks after media reports that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will visit China next week for high-level trade talks, they said. The 225-issue Nikkei average gained 88.69 points, or 0.41 percent, to end at 21,709.57, after a gain of 204.09 points on Tuesday. ; The Topix index of all first-section issues was up 6.27 points, or 0.40 percent, at 1,575.09, following a rise of 12.45 points. Investment funds may be shifting to cyclicals from defensives amid improved sentiment, an official of a bank-linked securities firm said, citing a fall in domestic demand-oriented firms such as realtors and road transporters. Position-squaring selling limited stocks' upside after the Nikkei's rise of over 200 points yesterday, said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities Co. Stocks became top-heavy as they failed to maintain their momentum in afternoon trading. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.