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"Asia and the U.S. are being hit less by Europe than expected, which is positive for Japan's stocks"
- Shintaro Takeuchi, portfolio investment group manager at Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co.
Japanese stocks closed higher on Tuesday, snapping two days of losses after the U.S. economy added more jobs than it was expected and unemployment fell to 8.5 per cent in December.
The Nikkei 225 rose 0.38%, or 31.91 points, to 8,422.26, while the broader Topix edged higher 0.32%, or 2.33, to 731.93.
"Asia and the U.S. are being hit less by Europe than expected, which is positive for Japan's stocks," said Shintaro Takeuchi, portfolio investment group manager at Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., which oversees $113 billion in assets.
"U.S. economic data continue to be firm."