Share prices closed sharply higher with the benchmark Nikkei 225 index settling at its loftiest level in 52 months, spurred by gains among exporters such as carmakers and computer chip-related stocks which are expected to benefit from the yen's weakness, dealers said. The market rally comes after the Nikkei fell for the second straight trading day yesterday, the first two-day losing streak since mid-August. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average ended the day up 213.56 points or 1.6 pct at 13,738.84, the highest close since May 29, 2001 when it settled at 13,773.89. The broader-based TOPIX index of all First Section issues rose 10.55 points or 0.75 pct to 1,421.83. Gainers beat losers 977 to 603, with 84 issues unchanged. Volume reached 3.1 bln shares, up slightly from 3.0 bln shares yesterday. The dollar was trading around 114.16 yen when the equities market closed, not far from the high of 114.36 yen reached in New York trading overnight, a level not seen since May 2004. The dollar's gains followed the release of strong US manufacturing data and disappointment on the Bank of Japan's September Tankan survey.