2017.03.2403:29:00UTC+00Nikkei Edges up as Yen’s Strength Wanes

The Nikkei share average index closed up 0.9 percent at 19, 262.53 on Friday, brushing off the weakness of Japanese stocks earlier in the session and pulling away from the prior session's one-and-a-half month lows.

Despite finishing the session higher, the benchmark index still lost 1.3 percent for the week.

The JPX-Nikkei 400 and the broader Topix both rose 0.9 percent to 13, 806.87 and 1, 543.92 respectively. The Topix is set for a weekly loss of 1.4 percent.

The dollar firmed 0.5 percent to 111.46 yen, rising from the prior session's multi-month lows as indications of a postponed vote on President Donald Trump's healthcare bill would proceed later in the day.

Toshiba Corp. shares ended 7.6 percent higher after Effissimo Capital Management took the majority shareholder position in the firm. Banking shares also rallied, lifted by the upturn in the overall market, causing the bank subindex in the Tokyo Stock Exchange to rise 1.5 percent.