Nikkei index ends at record high on U.S.-Iran peace talk hopes

TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index ended at a record high above 59,000 points on Thursday on growing optimism about peace negotiations between the United States and Iran.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average climbed 1,384.10 points, or 2.38 percent, from Wednesday to 59,518.34. The broader Topix index finished 44.13 points, or 1.17 percent, higher at 3,814.46.