Nikkei marks best year-end close since 1980s bubble

TOKYO: The Nikkei share average on Thursday recorded its highest year-end closing level since the bubble era of the 1980s, despite posting small losses in thin trading ahead of a four-day holiday.

The benchmark slipped 0.40% to 28,791.71, with about 12 stocks declining for every one that rose. The broader Topix lost 0.33% to 1,992.33, but also marked the best year-end close since 1989, following a 10.4% rally this year.