Japan's Nikkei Stock Average gained
0.67% or 56.46 points on Friday closing at 8,455.35. Japan's leading exporters partly
recovered from previous days' losses as Sony Corp. ascended 2%, Sharp
Corp. climbed 1.1% while Panasonic Corp. jumped 1.6%.
Appreciation in the Nikkei 225 also was fuelled by retailers as Fast Retailing
Co. soared 1.2% and J. Front Retailing Co surged 1.9%. Nikkei 225 is down 17.3% for this year.