TOKYO —

Japanese stocks rose for a seventh straight trading day on Wednesday, lifted by optimism over a U.S. economic stimulus plan and a surge in exporters on the back of a weakening yen.
 
The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average increased 158.40 points, or 1.74%, to close at 9,239.24. The broader Topix index climbed 1.38% to 888.25.
 
“Hopes for the U.S. stimulus plan continue to support the market,” said Masatoshi Sato, strategist at Mizuho Investors Securities Co Ltd.
 
President-elect Barack Obama has proposed tax breaks and big spending on infrastructure in a bid to boost the world’s largest economy. The stimulus plan could cost $800 billion or more, and Obama said he wanted to see his package ready for signing into law by early February.
 
“Although the global economy is still mired in uncertainty, investors are hopeful that Obama’s plan will have positive economic effects,” Sato said.
 
The Japanese market also got a boost from a weaker yen, which benefits exporters like Sony Corp and Toyota Motor Corp by increasing their repatriated profits. The yen was quoted at 93.76 to the dollar in Tokyo late afternoon trade Wednesday, compared with 93.38 in New York late Tuesday.
 
But Sato warned the Nikkei index could fall later in the week amid caution over Friday’s release of the U.S. jobs data.
 
The U.S. unemployment rate in November zoomed to 6.7%, a 15-year high. Economists predict it will rise to 7% in December, with another 500,000 jobs probably cut last month.
 
Sony jumped 8.7% to 2,305 yen. Its rival, Panasonic Corp, gained 8.7% to 1,294 yen.
 
Toyota increased 4.9% to 3,200 yen. Honda Motor Co surged 11% to 2,210 yen although Japan’s No.2 auto maker said Wednesday it will delay the start of production at its first plant in Argentina for more than six months.
 

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