Stock Market

Japans Nikkei jumped 3.4 percent on Monday to post its highest close in seven weeks, with banks including MUFG jumping on optimism about US plans to help a strained financial system, while a weaker yen helped exporters. The United States on Monday offered generous financing for private investors to help cleanse banks of up to $1 trillion in toxic assets that are blocking lending and worsening a deep US recession.