Tokyo stocks surge, Nikkei up 3%, as oil prices fall on Middle East hopes

Tokyo stocks surged Thursday, with the Nikkei stock index ending up over 3 percent, as hopes for a settlement in the Middle East conflict eased crude oil prices.The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 1,879.73 points, or 3.14 percent, from Wednesday at 61,684.14, snapping a five-day losing streak. The broader Topix index finished 62.16 points, or 1.64 percent, higher at 3,853.81.On the top-tier Prime Market, the main gainers were information and communication, electric appliance and glass and ceramics product issues.The U.S. dollar moved mostly in the upper 158 yen range in Tokyo, as th…READ FULL ARTICLE