Japan's Nikkei index rose for the sixth consecutive trading day Thursday, ending at a roughly 10-and-a-half-month high, after the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a fresh record overnight while brisk US data boosted the dollar against the yen, buoying export-linked firms.

    The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 170.47 points, or 0.94%, from Tuesday at 18,333.41. Tokyo markets were closed Wednesday for a national holiday, according to Japan's (Kyodo) News Agency.

    The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 12.46 points, or 0.86%, higher at 1,459.96, advancing for the 10th day in a row, the longest winning streak in roughly one-and-a-half years.

    Gainers were led by iron and steel, transportation equipment and real estate issues.