Nikkei rallies 2% on softer yen, Japan leadership contest in spotlight
Updates with levels as of 0600 GMT
By Brigid Riley
TOKYO, Sept 27 (Reuters) -Japan's Nikkei share average rallied more than 2% on Friday, buoyed by further softening of the yen after a strong advocate of "Abenomics" took thelead in first-round votes in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election.
The Nikkei .N225 ended 2.32% higher at 39,829.56, its highest close since July 19, while the broader Topix .TOPX finished up 0.73% at 2,740.94.
The gainsextended after right-wing economic security minister Sanae Takaichi and former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba qualified for the second round of voting to replacePrime Minister Fumio Kishida as the leader of Japan's ruling party.
The market was reacting to Takaichi, an advocate of deceased former premier Shinzo Abe's "Abenomics" stimulus policies and a vocal opponent of further interest rate hikes in Japan, coming in with the most votes in the firstround, analysts said.
"She advocates for monetary easing and fiscal stimulus... which is a plus for stocks," said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management.
Under such policies, the yen tends to track weaker and yields trend in a downward direction, making it easy for share prices to rise, he said.
The yen JPY=EBS fell to its lowest since early this month to 146.495, a plus for exporters who benefit from a softer domestic currency when repatriating funds, as markets braced for a Takaichi victory. FRX/
Japanese chip-related stocks led the rally, supported by overnight gains in their U.S. peers, with Tokyo Electron 8035.T climbing 6.66% to deliver the biggest boost to Nikkei.
Lasertec 6920.T surged 8.19% and was the biggest percentage gainer, while Advantest 6857.T climbed 4.48%.
Other major shares also made sizable gains, with Nikkei heavyweight Fast Retailing 9983.T adding 2.53%, SoftBank Group 9984.T rising 2.26% and Daikin Industries 6367.T ending 6.28% higher.
In a run-off vote after market hours, Shigeru Ishiba prevailed over Takaichi, which will likely drag themarket down inthe short term, analysts said.
Reporting by Brigid Riley; Editing by Eileen Soreng and Sumana Nandy
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