TOKYO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index closed higher Tuesday as solid corporate earnings lifted hopes for a further slew of robust results from domestic firms including steelmakers.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 292.94 points, or 1.01 percent, from Monday to close the day at 29,242.82, marking its highest closing level since Jan. 5, 2022.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, added 26.34 points, or 1.27 percent, to finish at 2,097.55.

Dealers here said that steelmaker JFE Holdings Inc. saying a day earlier it expected its profit to surge gave other steelmakers a boost on hopes for similar upbeat reports.

"The results were good, and much better than the market expected. The mainstay logistics segment, particularly related to autos, is expected to continue recovering along with improvements in the supply of semiconductors and car parts," Nomura Securities strategist Kazuo Kamitani was quoted as saying.

Brokers here said the market mood was also brightened in the afternoon following China's export data showing an 8.5 percent jump in April from a year earlier.

"Japanese companies, especially steel and machinery issues, benefit from China's economic strength," Shingo Ide, chief equity strategist at the NLI Research Institute., said.

JFE Holdings Inc. surged 14.5 percent and among other steelmakers gaining traction, Kobe Steel jumped 5.6 percent, while Nippon Steel leaped 5.3 percent.

Shipping firm Kawasaki Kisen was a notable winner, climbing 9.3 percent, after it announced its net profit for the fiscal year through March 2023 was higher than median market expectations.

Chip-oriented issues followed their U.S. peers higher overnight, with chip-testing equipment maker Advantest gaining 4.4 percent, while Tokyo Electron added 1.8 percent.

By the close of play, mining, transportation equipment and wholesale trade-linked issues comprised those that gained the most.

The turnover on the prime market on the second trading day of the week came to 3,274.63 billion yen (24.28 billion U.S. dollars). Enditem

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