Nikkei Hits Third Consecutive Record HighTokyo, 25 Sep (ONA) — The Japanese Nikkei index closed at a record high today, rising by 0.27 percent for the third consecutive session to close at 45,754.93 points. The broader Topix index also gained 0.47 percent, reaching 3,185.35 points. The non-ferrous metals sector increased by 3.24 percent, making it the best-performing sector among the 33 sub-indices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Shares of Sumitomo Metal Mining jumped 11.3 percent, leading the Nikkei index in percentage gains. Energy sectors also rose after oil prices hit a seven-week high yesterday, with the refining sector up 1.82 percent. The utilities sector rose 1.36 percent, with Tokyo Electric Power Company shares increasing by 5.24 percent. The energy exploration sector gained 1.52 percent, supported by a 0.94 percent rise in Inpex shares. Meanwhile, Advantest, a semiconductor testing equipment manufacturer, saw its shares fall by 2.43 percent. Among the more than 1,600 stocks listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s main section, 63 percent rose, 31 percent declined, and 4 percent remained unchanged. — Ends/AH