Nikkei index briefly tops 70,000 for 1st time after Bank Of Japan's rate hike

TOKYO - The Nikkei stock index ended at a record high on Tuesday, with the index briefly topping 70,000 for the first time, on relief after the Bank of Japan lifted its key policy rate to 1 percent in line with market expectations.

Amid an upward trend driven by the recent Middle East peace agreement, the key index erased earlier losses and rose over 700 points at one stage after the BOJ's decision but trimmed gains toward the end of the day's session.