Nikkei 225 index pushes higher supported by crude and financial shares

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average closed higher on Friday as US unemployment claims dropped to 4-year low and EU officials decided to accelerate the capital injection into permanent bailout fund. Nikkei 225 index surged 0.72% or 69.66 points to 9,777.03 with energy and financial stocks contributing most. Credit Saison rallied 5.6% and Daiwa Securities Group improved 2.7%. Inpex Corp added 1.4% and Japan Petroleum Exploration advanced 1.7%. On the downside Japanese car makers Toyota Motor and Mazda Motor declined 0.6% and 2.3% respectively.