Nikkei rises 19% in 2024, highest year-end finish on record

The Nikkei stock index ended the final trading day of 2024 on a down note but, for the year, rose 19 percent from 2023, closing at a record high on strong corporate earnings and a weaker yen boosting export-oriented stocks.The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 386.62 points, or 0.96 percent, from Friday at 39,894.54. The broader Topix index finished 16.76 points, or 0.60 percent, lower at 2,784.92.Japanese financial markets will be closed from Tuesday through Sunday for the New Year holidays.The U.S. dollar remained firm mostly in the upper 157 yen range on speculation that the inte…READ FULL ARTICLE