Stock Market

Japans Nikkei average climbed 3.7 percent to a three-month closing high on Thursday, with Sony Corp and other electronics firms cheered by an economic stimulus plan that spurred hopes of revived consumer spending. Automakers and solar power-related firms gained after a draft of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stimulus plan showed it will feature bigger than expected spending of 15.4 trillion yen ($154.5 billion) and contain measures to encourage the use of solar panels and fuel-efficient cars.