The Nikkei stock index rose Wednesday for the third consecutive day of gain following last week's sell-off, with investors calmly reacting to data showing the Japanese economy's largest contraction since the March 2011 earthquake-tsunami disaster.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 52.32 points, or 0.35%, from Tuesday at 15,213.63, according to (Kyodo) news agency.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 4.44 points, or 0.35%, higher at 1,262.13.
The Tokyo market got off to a weak start after the government said the Japanese economy shrank an annualized real 6.8% in the April to June quarter following the consumption tax hike on April 1.