Nikkei hits 2-month high, soft yen boosts exporters

(Updates to midafternoon)

TOKYO, May 2 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose more than 2 percent on Friday to a two-month high, buoyed by exporters such as Advantest Corp on a softer yen and a rally on Wall Street amid growing optimism about the U.S. economy.

Property firm Sumitomo Realty & Development Co shot up after a newspaper reported its profits were likely to beat forecasts. Other real estate stocks also rose on the back of strong earnings, helped by demand ...