Nikkei jumps to five-year high

Japan's main equity market surged to a five-year high on the first day of trading after the country's Golden Week public holiday.

The Nikkei 225 rose to 14,180, up 486 points or 3.55%, its highest level since June 2008. News of a huge stimulus package from the Bank of Japan to boost the economy has helped support Japanese asset prices in recent weeks. Other major policy moves, including last week's interest rate cut by the European Central Bank, also helped boost investor sentiment. The yen has continued to weaken to almost 99 yen to the dollar, offering support to the country's exporters. Meanwhile, Australia's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low of 2.75% in a move to weaken the d...