Stock prices in Tokyo were lifted Monday by a strong U.S. dollar, but most other Asian markets closed lower.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average of 225 selected issues edged up 51.31 points, or 0.43 percent, to 11,709.79. The index climbed 15.13 points, or 0.13 percent, on Friday.
Traders were encouraged by the dollar's advance against the Japanese yen, which inflates Japanese companies' foreign earnings when converted back to yen. It also makes Japanese goods cheaper abroad.
Technology issues were winners. NEC Corp. jumped 2.7 percent, Fujitsu Inc. rose 1.4 percent, and Sanyo Electric Co. added 0.9 percent. Elsewhere, Mazda Motor Corp. rose 3.1 percent and Advantest closed 3.5 percent higher.
But major steel makers dropped, with both Nippon Steel Corp. and Sumitomo Metal Industries Inc. ending lower.
The dollar has been rallying since early last week when the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates and issued a statement that noted strong inflationary pressures, which some saw as a sign that the central bank may hike rates again. Higher U.S. interest rates tend to boost the dollar.
The dollar bought 106.94 yen late Monday in Tokyo, up 0.56 yen from late Friday in Tokyo and above the 106.38 yen it bought in New York late Friday. It rose to 106.99 during the day's trade -- its highest level since Nov. 11.
The dollar also gained against the euro. The euro fell to US$1.2914 late Monday from US$1.2957 late Friday after hedge funds sold the European currency. Against the yen, the euro rose to 138.06 yen from 137.92 yen.