Share prices closed firmer, recouping losses in the morning, with the Nikkei 225 index finishing at its highest level since June 2001, suggesting strong investor confidence in Japanese corporate earnings, dealers said. Stocks had opened lower, following a decline on Wall Street, but soon rebounded. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed up 152.53 points or 1.2 pct at 12,986.78, its highest close since June 22, 2001, when it ended at 13,044.61. The broader TOPIX index of all First Section shares gained 14.94 points or 1.1 pct at 1,327.29. Gainers beat losers 1,123 to 418, with 116 issues unchanged. Volume reached 2.96 bln shares, up from 2.40 bln shares traded yesterday. "The Nikkei has now shifted to another, higher range of 12,500 to 13,500, although it is not easy to surpass 13,000," said Hideo Mizutani, chief strategist at Sieg Securities. "Foreign investors are actively buying on expectations that corporate results for September quarter will be revised up. After all, stocks respond to earnings," Mizutani added. The market was little moved by the revision of Japan's index of leading economic indicators for July, which was revised down to 45.5 from 50.0 initially. A reading above 50 indicates economic expansion over the next three to six months, while a reading below 50 suggests contraction. The coincident index, which measures the current state of the economy, was revised up to 30.0 from 22.2 initially, but remained below the boom-or-bust line for the first time in five months.