Nikkei seen up on recovery hopes, shift to stocks

TOKYO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average is expected to rise for a third day on Tuesday after hitting a nine-month peak the day before, as investors pile into riskier assets in developed economies on hopes for a steady economic recovery.

Japan, which is the best performing Asian market this year with year-to-date gains of more than 3 percent, has benefited from a shift into developed markets bolstered by strong October-December corporate earnings announced over the last ...