KEY POINTS:
TOKYO - The Nikkei average eked out a 0.08 per cent gain to end at its highest in nearly four months yesterday as Daiichi Sankyo and Nikon rose on brokerage upgrades, but shipping and airline stocks fell on worries about higher fuel costs.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries rose 1.6 per cent to 510 on news about its shipbuilding joint venture with China's COSCO Group.
Meanwhile, game maker Nintendo hit a record high of 44,000, partly on a softer yen, before ending up 1.9 per cent at 43,900.
With the benchmark Nikkei rising for a fourth straight session and now just 0.7 per cent off this year's high of 18,300, investors appeared to be stopping short of pushing prices higher.
- REUTERS
