Japan Stocks Rise a Third Day After Fed Minutes Show Rate Split

---

Japanese stocks rose for a third day after Federal Reserve minutes from its latest meeting showed officials were split on the timing for raising U.S. interest rates.

The Topix index climbed 0.3 percent to 1,592.55 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo, with all but six of its 33 industry groups rising. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 0.3 percent to 19,850.30.

The minutes showed Fed policy makers were divided on whether to raise interest rates in June, later in the year or in 2016. The meeting was held before the release last week of weaker-than-expected payroll figures.

The dollar rallied after the release, erasing gains in the yen which came after the Bank of Japan yesterday maintained its record stimulus. The yen traded at 120.12 per dollar.

Source : Bloomberg