Nikkei ends above 60,000 for 1st time on tech gains, Mideast hopes

The Nikkei stock index finished above the 60,000-point line for the first time on Monday, propelled by heavyweight technology shares and hopes for a breakthrough in the Middle East conflict.The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 821.18 points, or 1.38 percent, from Friday at 60,537.36. The broader Topix index finished 18.69 points, or 0.50 percent, higher at 3,735.28.On the top-tier Prime Market, the main gainers were electric appliance, nonferrous metal and machinery issues.The U.S. dollar mostly traded in the lower 159 yen range in Tokyo, after strengthening to the upper 159 yen leve…READ FULL ARTICLE