This file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Nikkei stock index ended nearly 2 percent higher Wednesday, snapping a three-day losing streak, as investors scooped up battered shares.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 543.18 points, or 1.92 percent, from Tuesday at 28,765.66. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 32.54 points, or 1.64 percent, higher at 2,019.36.

       The only industry categories not to gain ground were the insurance, and electric power and gas sectors. Major gainers were led by mining, marine transportation and metal product issues.

       The U.S. dollar was firm in the mid-115 yen zone as rallies in U.S. and Japanese stocks helped whet investors' risk appetite, dealers said.

       At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 115.39-41 yen compared with 115.25-35 yen in New York and 115.25-27 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

       The euro was quoted at $1.1358-1359 and 131.06-10 yen against $1.1364-1374 and 131.02-12 yen in New York and $1.1341-1342 and 130.71-75 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.

       The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell 0.025 percentage point from Tuesday's close to 0.125 percent as investors bought the debt, tracking an overnight rise in the U.S. Treasury market, dealers said.

       The Nikkei, which struck a nearly three-week low the previous day amid worries over resurging coronavirus cases in Japan, bounced back on advances in heavyweights such as SoftBank Group. The technology investor surged 323 yen, or 6.0 percent, to 5,683 yen.

       Fast Retailing, the operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, ended its 12-day losing streak, closing up 1,040 yen, or 1.8 percent, at 60,300 yen.

       "The market has been extremely volatile since the end of last year. Recent sharp losses triggered bargain hunting in some stocks," said Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co.

       Market sentiment was also lifted as investors were relieved after congressional testimony Tuesday by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell did not include any surprises about the central bank's plan to tighten its monetary policy to fight rising inflation, brokers said.

       But Fujito said market volatility will persist in the coming days as investors focus on key events in the United States that may reinforce the Fed's prospects of tighter policy, which would lead to higher borrowing costs for companies and households.

       Such events include the release later in the day of U.S. consumer price data, a key inflation gauge, for December.

       On the First Section, advancing issues outnumbered decliners 1,924 to 219, while 42 ended unchanged.

       Tokyo Electron, a semiconductor equipment maker, climbed 2,350 yen, or 3.7 percent, to 65,100 yen, tracking a sharp advance overnight in the U.S. tech-heavy Nasdaq index.

       Yaskawa Electric, an industrial robot maker, rose 120 yen, or 2.2 percent, to 5,560 yen on upbeat earnings for the nine months through November.

       Trading volume on the main section fell to 1,197.95 million shares from Tuesday's 1,246.77 million shares.

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