Nikkei share rises to 10-1/2-month high

Japan`s Nikkei share average rose to a 10-1/2-month high on Friday as the yen weakened further against the surging dollar, raising prospects for better-than-expected exporters` earnings.

The Nikkei ended 0.6 per cent higher at 17,967.41, its highest level since Jan. 6.

For the week, the index gained 3.4 per cent, the biggest weekly gain since early September.

The broader Topix gained 0.4 per cent to 1,428.46 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 added 0.3 per cent to 12,819.33, according to a news agency report.