Japan's Nikkei inches higher amid weaker yen, pharma extends rally
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Japan's Nikkei share average rose in early trade on Friday, with pharma shares rallying for a second session, although gains were limited as tech stocks followed their U.S. peers lower. Japanese exporter-heavy equity markets also got some broad support from a weaker yen versus the dollar. However, the outlook for the currency pair looks murky, with investors watching Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda's testimony in parliament after last month's surprise rate hike. Market participants are also looking forward to U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's keynote speech at the annual Jackson Hole symposium later in the day. The Nikkei rose 0.2% to 38,288.79 by 0008 GMT, while the broader Topix climbed 0.32%. Pharma was among the top gainers among the Tokyo Stock Exchange's 33 industry groups, with a 1% rise. It climbed 1.56% on Thursday. Sumitomo Pharma gained 2%, while Chugai Pharmaceuticals jumped 2.9%. Electronics m...