Nikkei ends at record high for 2nd straight day after LDP's election win

TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index ended at a record high Tuesday for the second straight day, surging over 2 percent on hopes for expansionary fiscal policies after Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party scored a landslide victory in Sunday's general election.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 1,286.60 points, or 2.28 percent, from Monday at 57,650.54. The broader Topix index finished 71.71 points, or 1.90 percent, higher at 3,855.28, also registering an all-time closing high.