Japan's Nikkei share average is on the path to book its maximum close in more than five years today. The Nikkei benefited 0.55 percent as shares in Sony Corp. and other technical firms, advanced on expectations of powerful earnings. Investors bought shipping firms (for example Nippon Yusen KK) on the belief that they will benefit from an improving global economy. However the realtors fell due to a report that the central bank plans to tighten its monitoring of real estate loans. The Nikkei finished the morning up 89.90 points at 16,451.44. Earlier it hit 16,474.52. It’s the Nikkei’s highest level since September 2000. The broader TOPIX index was up 0.52 percent at 1,681.73.

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