TOKYO, May 28 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Thursday, vaulting above a key technical resistance of its 200-day moving average on hopes of a quick economic normalisation, with investors snatching up deeply discounted stocks such as financials.
The positive mood overwhelmed concerns about deteriorating U.S-China relations as Washington signals it may no longer regard Hong Kong warranted special treatment as Beijing prepares new security law for the territory. Nikkei average .N225 advanced 1.43% to 21,725.54, rising above a major chart point of 200-day moving average at 21,656. The broader Topix .TOPX gained 1.12% to 1,566.79. Both indexes hit their highest levels since late February.
Gains were led by short-covering in value-oriented shares, such as financials and steelmakers -- the sectors that had been badly hit since the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Banks .IBNKS.T jumped 4.2%, while securities brokerages .ISECU.T gained 3.5% and insurers .IINSU.T rose 3.3%. Steelmakers .ISTEL.T added 3.9%.
Including those, value shares .TOPXV rose 2.0% compared with 0.7% in growth-oriented shares .TOPXG .
Nissan Motor 7201.T rallied 7.9% and Mitsubishi Motor 7211.T rose 5.3% after the two automakers, along with Renault RENA.PA , announced a revival plan, pledging to cut vehicle ranges and pool manufacturing by region. 4324.T soared 14.5% after the PR firm reported profits for the three months to March, compared to a net loss a year earlier, even as it withdrew annual guidance due to uncertainty over COVID-19. Holdings 6098.T gained 2.9% even after its earnings for January-March announced the previous day fell short of market expectations.