The Nikkei Stock Average rose to a fresh 34-year high, underpinned by expectations for the Bank of Japan to maintain its super-loose accommodative monetary policy stance and a weaker yen.

Japan’s benchmark index advanced 1.5% to 35577.11 on Friday, reaching its highest closing level since February 1990, after hitting near 34-year highs for the past three days. The index gained 6.6% for the week, the largest weekly gain since the week ended March 18, 2022, according to FactSet.