"The U.S. economy has actually entered into a recovery stage led by housing"
- Masaru Hamasaki, chief strategist at Toyota Asset Management Co.
Japanese stocks rose on Wednesday after a report showed U.S. home prices rose for the first time in a year.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 0.40 per cent, or 36.52 points, to 9,069.81. The broader Topix Index added 0.50 per cent, or 3.73, to 750.03.
"The U.S. economy has actually entered into a recovery stage led by housing," Masaru Hamasaki, chief strategist at Toyota Asset Management Co.
"U.S. home prices are recovering, thanks to government measures to keep long-term interest rates low. Investors are paying so much attention to Bernanke's remarks in Jackson Hole that they can't take a position until they've heard the speech."
© Dukascopy Bank SA