Nikkei logs 19% gain in 2017, highest year-end level in 26 years

Tokyo stocks fell slightly Friday, the final trading day of the year, but the Nikkei stock index gained 19 percent in 2017 to hit the highest year-end level in 26 years on the back of the global economic recovery.The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 19.04 points, or 0.08 percent, from Thursday at 22,764.94. The index surpassed the previous year-end close for the sixth straight year. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 1.47 points, or 0.08 percent, lower at 1,817.56.Decliners were led by food, chemical and service issues.The Nikke…READ FULL ARTICLE