Tokyo stocks rise ahead of holiday

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TOKYO, July 17 (Xinhua) - Tokyo stocks rose Friday on positive US and Chinese economic data ahead of a three-day weekend.

The benchmark Nikkei- 225 index gained 51.16 points, or 0.55 percent You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, from Thursday to 9,395.32.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 6.04 points, or 0.69 percent, to 878.29.

The market sentiment was buoyed by the fourth straight day rally on the US market, as well as the upbeat China's economic growth in the second quarter.

Gainers were led by real estate, securities and insurance issues. Major decliners included rubber product, electrical machinery, and iron and steel issues.

Nissan Motor Co., Japan's third-largest carmaker, lost 2.33 percent although it said may expand its hybrid line-up to compete with rivals Toyota and Honda. While Toyota Motor Corp. gained 0.29percent to 3,510 yen after saying it will build a hybrid version of its Auris hatchback car in two UK factories.

Banking and securities shares gained, with bellwether Mizuho Financial Group You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, the day's leader in both value and volume terms, rising 2 yen, or above 1 percent, to 192 yen.

Real estate shares climbed, with Mitsubishi Estate advancing 62yen, or over 4 percent, to 1,478 yen after news that it plans to buy real estate firms in the United States and Europe. Nomura Real Estate Holdings jumped over 6 percent.

NEC Corp. fell almost 9 percent after the Yomiuri newspaper reported the electronics manufacturer may raise 150 billion yen (1.6 billion US dollars) to bolster capital. The fall was its steepest since Nov. 6

Trading volume on the main section came to 1,643.89 million shares, down sharply from Thursday's 2,278.06 million, to mark the most inactive trading day since July 6.

Japanese markets will be closed Monday for a national holiday.

On the First Section, advancing issued outpaced declining ones 1,030 to 531, with 138 others remaining unchanged.

The TSE's Second Section index was up 9.33 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2 You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login,145.77 on a volume of 28.74 million shares. On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term September Nikkei 225 index futures contract was up 50 points to 9,380 .