TOPIX hits highest in nearly 15 years, Toyota up

TOKYO, Apr 6 (Reuters) Tokyo's broad TOPIX index rose to its highest level in nearly 15 years on Thursday as Toyota Motor Corp. and other leading Japanese firms gained on expectations of higher profits.

Shares in Aeon Co. Ltd. climbed after Asia's largest retailer posted a sixth consecutive year of record profit while technology firms were boosted after some U.S. stock indexes closed at five-year highs.

The TOPIX finished the morning up 1.09 percent at 1,765.13 after earlier hitting 1,769.61, its highest since November 1991.

The Nikkei was up 0.91 percent at 17,401.48.

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