-- Japanese shares closed the week higher after the government said it would release 20 days' worth of oil reserves from May to stabilize domestic supply and offset disruptions linked to Middle East tensions.
The Nikkei 225 rose 1.84%, or 1,028.79 points, to close at 56,924.11.
The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, but Iran's Strait of Hormuz blockade continues to strain global energy supplies. Japan, which depends on the Middle East for about 95% of its oil, began releasing reserves on March 16 under a 50-day plan with allies.
An additional 20 days' supply will come from public stockpiles. As of April 7, Japan held reserves covering 228 days, including 143 days in government stockpiles, and will act independently while coordinating with the International Energy Agency.
In economic news, Japan's producer prices rose in March, with the corporate goods price index up 0.8% on month and 2.6% on year, driven by higher fuel and import costs, while export prices rose 0.8% and import prices gained 1.5%.
Japan's bank lending rose 4.8% on year in March to about 667.021 trillion yen, accelerating from February, led by major banks, while regional and shinkin banks saw slower growth.
On the corporate front, Astroscale (TYO:186A) shares rose 8% after its Japan unit secured a 1.25 billion yen grant from JAXA for a space technology project focused on in-orbit refueling.
W Scope (TYO:6619) shares fell 16% after it said it missed Prime Market tradable market cap requirements, citing weak EV demand and risk of delisting if unmet by 2027.
Toho (TYO:8129) shares slipped 3% after it extended its review period for a proposed large-scale share purchase by 3D Investment Partners to April 28.