Japanese stocks rose moderately today after a four-and-a-half month low yesterday.
The Nikkei 225 index rose 113.13 points, or 0.67 per cent, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to 16,984.11 points.
Investors snapped up real estate shares today, a day after the government reported Japanese land prices posted a second straight year of increase.
Gainers included Mitsubishi Estate, which climbed 6.31 per cent to 3,200 yen ($26.89), and Sumitomo Realty & Development, which added 3.76 per cent to 3,590 yen ($30.17).
Banking stocks continued to slump, however, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group shedding 1.65 per cent to 1.19 million yen ($10,000) and Resona Holdings dropping 3.25 per cent to 238,000 yen ($20,000).
Yesterday the Nikkei fell 2.2 per cent to 16,870.98 points, the lowest close since March 16th. That decline came on disappointing earnings from Japan's megabanks and Wall Street's recent retreat.