Nikkei ends at 9-week closing high, Nikko surges

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By Aiko Hayashi

TOKYO, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average ended Wednesday at its highest level in nine weeks, led by Nikko Cordial Corp and rival brokerage houses after Citigroup said it would buy out minority shareholders in Nikko Cordial.

The benchmark has recovered 13 percent since its year-low hit in August as subprimes fears hit the global markets, but is still off 6 percent from its year-high logged in late February. So far ...